
Book 



/ 1^' 



.Wsy 



( OPYRK.HT DliPOSlT 




HON. LYMAN J. GAr.E 
Scc'y of the Treasu 

NON. JOHN D. LONG 
Sec'y of the Navy 

HON. JAMES WILSON 

Sec'y of Agriculture 



HON. Wm. R. DAV 

Sec y of State 

PRESIDENT McKINLEY 
HON. JOHN W. GRIGGS 

Attorney-General 



HON. CHARLES EMORY SMITH 
Postmaster-General 

HON. RUSSELL A. ALGER 
Sec'y of 'War 

HON. CORNELIUS N. BLISS 
Sec'y of Interior 




BEAH ADMIHAL r.EORGn DrWFY 
CummanJlng A»k«tlc SquaJrun 

COMMODORE W. S. SCHLEY 
Ca*o>«n4in( Rylng Sqtudrao 



Squa4run 



CAPTAIN H. D. rVANS 
Of Ihc Balllethip l"wa 



CAPTAIN C. V. r.HlDLEY 
Of llie Cruller 01> mpU 



OUR WAR WITH SPAIN 

FOR 

CUBA'S FREEDOM. 



A THRILLING ACCOUNT OF THE LAND AND NAVAL OPERATIONS 
OF AMERICAN SOLDIERS AND SAILORS IN OUR WAR 

wrrn spatn. and the heroic struccles of 
CUBAN PATRIOTS AGAINST SPANISH TYRANNY. 



INCLUDING A DESCRIPTION AND HISTORY OF CUBA, SPAIN, PHIL- 
II'PINE ISLANDS, OUR ARMY AND NAVY, FIGHTING 
STRENGTH, COAST DEFENSES, AND OUR RELA- 
TIONS WITU OTHER NATIONS, ETC., ETC. 



' — TRUMBULL WHITE, 



THE WELL KNOWN AND POPULAR AUTHOU, HISTORIAN 
AND WAR COKRESPONDKNT. 



ELABORATELY ILLUSTRATED WITH PHOTOGRAPHS AND DRAW- 
INGS OF BATTLES. ON SEA AND LAND, WAR 
SHIPS, ETC., FROM LIFE. 



MANUFACTURED AND SOLD BY 

MONARCH BOOK COMPANY. 

OhlCAGO, ILL. PHILADELPHIA, t^^ 



Copyrighted by 

K. T. BOLAND. 

18V8. 



( 






I>c5tcate& 

TO 

®ur Hmerlcan IDoluntecr? 



PREFACE. 



InfoiTuation concerning- the island of Cuba has been of an exceed- 
ingly unsatisfactory- obaracter until the search-light of American 
inquiry was thrown upon it from the beginning of the war for Cuban 
liberty early in 1S95. Although our next-door neighbor to the south, 
with {i perfect winter climate and a host of interesting and picturesque 
attractions for travelers, tourists had been comparatively fe^v, 
measured by the numbers that might have been expected. All of the 
reasons for this were those which naturally followed the characteristic 
Spanish rule of the island. Publicity was not welcomed, inquiiy was 
not welcomed, travelers were not welcomed. The cities and the 
accommodations they offered were in many ways far behind those of 
like age and size in the other countries of the globe. Kailway construc- 
tion and the making of highways had lagged disgracefully, because 
the exorbitant taxes collected were looted by the officers of the govern- 
ment as their own six)ils. Xo other country so near to the highways of 
ocean commerce and so accessible from the United States was so little 
known, 

A few travelers had journeyed to Cuba and had written books 
descriptive of their experiences, which were x'ead with interest by those 
who had access to them. But these books were usually simply descrip- 
tive of the people, the manner of life, the scenery, and the things of 
surface interest. It is proverbial that Spanish rule conceals the re- 
sources of a country instead of exploiting them. The person of inquir- 
ing mind had no way in Cuba to obtain prompt information concerning 
the material facts of the island's wealth of resource, because the 
Spanish authorities themselves knew nothing about it. Spanish 
statistics are notoriously unreliable and incomplete. Xo census of 
Cuba worthy the name ever has been taken, and there are few schools 
and few sources of accux'ate information. With all this handicap it 
was a foregone conclusion that the casual traveler should confine him- 
self to the things that were visible and that were near to the usual 
paths of travelers- So until the beginning of the Cuban war for liberty 
no book could be obtained which told the things which one reallv cares 



8 PREFACE. 

to know. Pii-tures(|U(' (lesn-iptions there were, more than one, of con- 
siderable interest, but the inforniallon was scattered. 

Demand always creates supply, even if matenal is scant. When 
the war be.iran. the i)eople of the Unitinl States wanted to know some- 
thin;; of the people who were stnvini,' for their freeilom, of their 
characteristics, their conditions and their personality. Moreover, it 
was an immediate necessity to know the «;eo<iTaphy of Cuba, its history, 
its natural conditions, its matenal resoiirces, and a host of thin^^s that 
unite to make a comprehensive knowledge of any countiy. There were 
men who knew Qiba from years of residence there in industrial and 
commercial enteri)rises. They were drawn upon for their knowledge. 
Then the newsi)a])ers of the United States p:ave another demonstration 
of tlicir unvaryinfi enteiqirise and covennl the points of interest in the 
insurrection most exliaustively. Their correspondents .shared the 
<amps of insurgent chiefs, witnessed tlie daring machete charges of the 
Cubans, saw every detail of aimed life in the field. Others kept close 
walrli of the movenu'uts of the Sjjanish forces in Havana and the 
fortified towns, as well as in the field. One was shot in action. Anollier 
was macheted to death after his capture, by a Spanish ofilcer who 
waited only to be sure that the prisoner was an American before 
ordering him to death. Others were incarcerated in Moito and 
Cabanas fortresses and in the other Spanish pn.sons in Cuba because 
they insisted t)n telling the truth to America and the world. They 
were the ones who toM of the horrors of reconcentration under that 
infamous order of Cjii>tain C.eneral Weyler. They have been the real 
historians of Cuba. 

It is to all of these sources and others that the information con- 
tained in the j>resent volunii- is owed. The writer takes ]deasure in 
acknowledging the courteous jiermission to use salient facts contained 
in some vohuues of merit publislied prior to this time. l?ut more tlian 
all the obligation is to the newspaper correspoiulents who worked with 
him in Cuba in the days when tlie war wa.s but an insurrection ami 
nflr-rward wlu-n the insurrection became our own war against Spain 
for the liberty of Oiba. They are the ones who have gathered the 
most exiiaustive information on the whcde subject of Cuban affaii-s. 
They have be«-n able by virtue of their intimate knowledge of Cuba and 
llie Cubans to be of invaluable assistance to the commanders of army 
ant! navy alike, not only in advice as to the forming of plans, but in 
executing them. One who has seen the things knows that to exag- 



PEEFACE. 9 

gerate the horrors of Spanish cruelty and the oppression of Spanish 
rule in Cuba is an impossibility. No newspaper could have printed 
the i>lain truth of a score of shocking affairs, simply because the public 
prints are no place for the exploiting of such tales of vicious crime 
against humanity as have been pei'petrated. The most sensational 
tales have never reached the limits of the truth. 

It is hoped that the reader will find in this volume not only a com- 
prehensive current history of our war with Spain for Cuba's freedom, 
but also much of the other mattter that will be of interest and value 
in considering the future of the liberated island. Its histoiy, its people, 
its resources and other salient subjects are included, with cer-tain matter 
on Spain and her own affairs, with Puerto Kico and the Philippine 
islands, which chapters serve to make the volume a work for general 
reference and reading on the whole subject of the war. 



LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. 



Photograph Group — Prcsidcut McKinky and his Cabinet. 

Photograph Group — Dewey, Sampson, Evans, Schley, and Gridley. 

Clara Barton — Her work in a Cuban Hospital. 

United States Artillery going to the Front. 

Headquarters of Cuban Patriots — Key West. 

C'ul)an Soldiers and Recruiting OlHcer — C'ulia. 

Harbor of Havana, sliowing Forts, Sand Batteries and other (Juns. 

Tlu^ Battleship " Maine," previous to her destruction. 

General Fitzhugh Lee — Ex-Consul CJeneral to Havana. 

Fitzhugh Lee's departure from Havana prior to Declaration of War. 

Nelson A. Miles, (Jeneral Commanding the United States Army. 

United States Soldiers Marching to the Front. 

Captain Sigsbco of tlio ill-fated "Maine" — now Commaader of the 

Crui.ser St. Paul. 
(Jeneral Stewart 1j. Woodford — Lato U. S. Minister to Spain, 
(ieneral Maximo Gomez — Leader of the Insurgents of Cuha. 
General >L'iceo^of (Uil)a. 

Commodore Dewey's Victorious Battle witli tiie Spanisli Fleet. 
The United States Doul)le-Turreled Monitor "Terror." 
Farragut on board the " Hartford." 
Crossing a Pontoon Bridge at night. 
The Soulier's (Jood-by. 

Constructing Military Road through Swamp. 
Little King Alfonso of Spain. 
Royal Palace, Madrid, Spain. 
Sagasta — Premier of Spain. 
General Weyler — formerly Governor General of Cul)a. 



LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. 

A Typical Spanish Maiden. 

Spanish Bull Fighter. 

A Beautiful Street of Grenada — Spain. 

Clara Barton — Photograph. 

Hotel Inglaterre and Central Park — Havana. 

The Prado — Havana's Famous Boulevard. 

Drinking from the Same Canteen. 

Camp Life — Culinary Department. 

Wreck of United States Battleship " Maine." 

Siege Gun. 

The Battle Flags of the Fourteenth Regiment — N. Y. Artillery. 

City of Havana and Harbor. 

Morro Castle and Fortress — Havana. 

United States Battleship " Iowa" — Speed Trial. 

Forward Deck of United States Battleship " Indiana." 

The United States Battleship "Indiana." 

United States Battleship " Massachusetts" — Heavy Sea. 

United States Battleship " Oregon." 

United States Cruiser " Boston." 

United States Cruiser " New York." 

United States Cruiser " Brooklyn." 

United States Cruiser "Columbia." 

United States Cruiser " Philadelphia." 

United States Cruiser " San Francisco " — Flag Disj^lay. 

United States Cruiser " Minneapolis." 

United States Cruiser "Atlanta." 

United States Cruiser " Chicago." 

United States Gunboat " Yorktown." 

United States Gunboat " Coucoixl." 

United States Gunboat "Nashville." 

United States Defense Boat " Katahdin." 

United States Torpedo Boat "Ericsson." 

United States Dispatch Boat " Dolphin." 

Queen Regent and Family of Spain. 

A Common Scene in Havana — Cuba. 

Battle Between Spaniards and Insurgents — Cuba. 

The Valley of Yumui'i — Cuba. 

Blanco — Governor-General of Cuba. 

A Street Scene Among the Poor — Cuba. 



TABLE OF CONTENTS. 



Chapter. Pape. 

I. A \\;ir n.i' l.ilirrlv and Hiiiiiaiiit.v 17 

II. How ('((Iniiihiis Found the -rcarl of llii' Anlilk-s." H 

III. Spain's niatk Ilistoriral Ki-cord I't 

IV. l{iK'cant'crin<; in llif Spanish .Main •")"•• 

V. Coinnicrcial Dcvi'lopnicnt of Cuba •■•'^ 

\'l. I'.canlics of a Troi)ifai Island Til 

VII. W.'allli fr Natnn-'s Sloic in llic Forest and Fi.dds of 

("iilia H4 

\"in. Tlic Cnl.ans an<l How They lave !I2 

IX. Havana. Hie Island .Motiopolis !>'.• 

X. The Cities of Ciilia ltl."> 

XI. ^Inltei-injrs of Insinrertion 11-" 

.\ll. Oiill.icaK of llie Tell Years' War 1-0 

.Xlll. .Massacre of the N'ir;rinins Ollireis and <"rew \S.\ 

.\l\'. Operations of ihe Tm ^■ears■ War K'.O 

.\ \'. The Peace of Zanjon, and Its N'iolalcd I'l((lj;es i:!:'. 

.\\l. I're]iaralions for .\nother Heliellion l.'.T 

.Wll. The Ciilian .Inula anil lis Work Ill 

Will. Key We^l and liie Cnhans i:)l 

.MX. .\nollier Slicdie for Freedom l.'.d 

X \. .lose .Marti, and Other Cnliau Heroes IC,:'. 

X.\l. Desjierate HatlleH with Ma<]iete and Kille Hi:* 

X .\ II. Filibusters from Floiida 171! 

X X 1 1 1. Weyler. the IJutcher \S2 

.\.\'l\'. Cuba I'nder tlio Scourge ls!t 

XXV. Fit/hu^'h I to the Front l!ll 

X.WI. .\mericaiis in Sjianish I>iin;;eons 1!)0 

XX\'II. Ma.eo Head bv Treacherv 204 



Chapter. 

XXVIII. 

XXIX. 

XXX. 

XXXI. 

XXXII. 

XXXIII. 

XXXIV. 

XXXV. 

XXXVI. 

XXXVII. 

XXXVIII. 

XXXTX. 

XL. 

XLI. 

XLII. 

XLIII. 

XLIV. 

XLV. 

XLVI. 

XLVII. 

XLVIII. 

XLIX. 

L. 



, TABLE OF CUXTENTS. 

Page. 

Wejler's Recoucentration Policy and Its Ilonoiis -"T 

American Indignatiou Growing -1^ 

Outrages on Americans in Cuba 225 

McKinlcy Succeeds Cleveland -''2 

The Case of Evangelina Cisneros 2.'?S 

Work of Clara Barton and the Kcd ( 'ross 243 

The Catastrophe to the Maine 250 

Patience at the Vanishing I'oint 256 

Events in the American Congress 200 

President McKinley Acts 2(i4 

Strength of the Opposing Squadron and Ariuies 271 

Battleships and Troops Begin to Jlove 286 

Diplomatic Relations Terminated 292 

First Guns and First Prizes of the ^^'ar 297 

Declaration of War. 303 

Call for the National Guard, Our Citizen Soldiers 306 

Blockade of Cuban Ports ,312 

Spanish Dissensions at Home 317 

The Philippines and Puerto Rico, Sjiain's Last Remaining 

Colonies 327 

Progress of Hostilities 339 

Sea Fight Off Manila — Americans \'ictorious 347 

Hawaii, and Our Annexation Policy 361 

Continued Success for American Soldiers and Sailors 369 



NTRODUCTION. 



When, on tbo 22(1 day of April, 1S98, Michael Mallia, f^uii captain (if 
the Tuiti'd States cruiser Nashville, sent a shell across the hows of tiie 
Spauisli sliip Biiena Ventura, ho {jave the signal shot that ushered iu a 
war for libci-iy for the slaves of Spain. 

The world has never seen a contest like it. Nations have fou^lit for 
tt'rritoiy and for gtdd, but tliey have not foufiht for tiie happiness of 
others. Natious have resisted the encroachments of barbarism, but 
until the niueleenlh ceulury they have not fou-jlit to ujjroot barbarism 
and cast it out of its establislu'd phice. Nations have foujrht to iire- 
sene the integrity of their own emjiire, but they have not fouglit .a 
foreign foe to set otliers free. Men have gone on crusades to fight for 
holy tombs and s.^Tiibids, but armies liave not been put in motion to 
overthrow vicious politital systems and regenerate iniquitous govern- 
ments for other ptniples. 

For more tlian four centuries Spain has lield llie ishind of Cuba as 
licr clialtel, and there slie iia.s revelled iu corruptiou, and wantoned in 
luxury wrung from slaves witli the cruel liand of unchecked imwcr. 
She has been tlie unjust and merciless court of last resort. From lui- 
malignant verdict tliere lias l»een no jiossible appeal, no power to wliicii 
lier victims could turn for help. 

Hut the end ha.s come at last. The woe, the grief, the humiliation, 
the agony, the desj)air that Sjiain has heaped upon thr> helpless, and 
multiplied in the world until the world is sickened wifli it, will be 
piled in one avalanche on her own head. 

l^iberty has grown slowly. Civilization has l>een on the defensive. 
Now liberty liglits for liberty, and civilizal'on l:ikes the aggressive in 
the lioli<'st wai- the world has even known. 

Never was there a war before in which so many stimulating deeds of 
bravely were done in such a short time, and this in s])ite of the fact 
that the jiublic has been restless for more action. It is almost worth a 
war to have inscribed such a deed of cool, intelligent heroism as that 
of llobson and his men with the Merrimac, in the entrance to the harl;or 
of Santiago <le Cuba. That is an event iu world histoiy, one never to be 
forgotten, and in the countries of liluropc quite as generously recognized 
as by our own people. There is a word to say for the Spanish admiral. 



INTRODUCTION. 15 

In his chivalry after that act of heroism, Cervera jn'oved liimself a 
woi'thy adversary, who could realize and admire bravery in a foe, even 
when it had been directed against himself with such signal success. 
Not every commander would be gi*eat enough in that circumstance to 
send a flag of truce to the opposing admiral, in order to inform him that 
his brave men were safe and that they were honored as brave men by 
their captors. 

Of anotiier sort was the bravery of Dewey at Manila, more notable 
in its results but in no other way surpassing that of Ilobson and his 
men. Dewey went forward in spite of unknown dangers of torpedoes, 
to engage an enemy in the place it had selected as most favorable for 
Spanish arms, an enemy with more ships, more men, more gnus than 
had the American. A day later the nation was at the feet, of Dewey 
and the United States had taken a position among the powers of the 
world never before admitted by them. In larger degree than ever 
before, from that moment the United States became a factor in the 
international history of the world. At this writing one cannot tell 
what will be the end of the relations of the United States to the Philip- 
pines and the Orient, but the solution cannot fail to be of profit to this 
nation. This was a holy war for the liberty of Cuba, but like many 
another good deed it is bringing its additional rewards. Cuba, Puerto 
Pico, the Philippines and the Caroline islands are to be liberated, four 
colonies of Spain instead of one, and the direct and indirect profit, 
looked at from a purely commercial basis, will be far more than enough 
to compensate the United States for the cost of the war. The annexa- 
tion of the Hawaiian islands a.s a war measure must be credited to the 
same cause, for the success of that effort under any other circumstances 
was problematical. 

Yet another sort of braveiy was that in the harbor of Cardenas when 
the little torpedo boat VS'iuslow lay a helpless hulk under the rain of 
fire from the shore batteries, without rudder or engine to serve, and 
the Iludson, a mere tugboat with a few little guns on deck, stood by 
for forty minutes to pass a hawser and tow the disabled vessel out of 
range. Both Avere riddled, the Winslow had half her total complement 
of men killed and wounded by a single shell, but there w'as no faltering, 
and they all worked away as coolly as if nothing were happening. 

If one started to catalogue the instances of personal bravery "that 
the war brought out in its first few months, the list would be a cum- 
bersome one. It is enough here to say that there have been a hundred 



16 



INTllUDLLTlOA'. 



tiiiifs wln-ii liiiisonal i-ouraf^e was nct'ded to be showu, ami ucvcr a 
luoincnt's hesitancy on the part of an^- man to whom the call came. 
Furthermore, in every case in which a particularly hazardous under- 
takiii^' was contemplated, and volunteers were called for, the number 
offering has been in eveiy instance far more than was needed. This 
was eminently notable on the occasion of Ilobson's sinkin.c: of the 
Merriniac, when more than a thousand in the fleet volunteered for a 
senice refpiiriuf; but six, and from which it seemed impossible that any 
could come out alive. 

The public must knt)W all about the war, and the only avenue of 
information is the press. Never before has any war been covered as 
to its news features with the accuracy and energy which have 
characterized this. American journalism has outstripped the world. 
The expense of a news service for this war is somethinc: enonnous. with 
little return compensation. Yet the work is done, metropolitan papers 
have from ten to twenty correspondents in the field, and the public 
ha.s the benefit. Dispatch boats follow the fleets and are present at 
everv battle. They must be near enouj,di to see, which means that they 
are in as much danj;er at times as are the ships of the fi.c;htins stpiadron, 
far more if one remembers that the former are in no way protected. 
Some of them are heavy sea-poinj; tu^^ and othere are yachts. The 
expense of charter, insurance and running cost amounts to from S200 
to ?400 a day each, and yet some metropolitan newspapers have fleets 
of these boats to the number of six. 

All the foregoing facts are relateil in detail in the volume which 
these paragraphs introduce. The only object in reiterating them here is 
that they are entitled to emi»hasis for their i»rominence, and it is desired 
to call special attention to them and their accompanying matter when 
the book itself siiall be read. The number of those who believe we 
are engaged in a rigiiteous war is overwhelming. The records of the 
brave de<Mls of our men atloat and ashore will inspire Americans to be 
better citizens as long as time shall last. The country has proven its 
faith in tlie catise by giving to the needs of war lniii(lre<ls of thousands 
of young men to fight for the liberty of others. From every corner of 
the land regiments of voluntwr soldiers have sprung in an instant at 
the call of the President, while as many more are waiting for another 
call to include tliose for whom there was not room the first time. The 
country wliirh can show such an inspiring movement has little to fear 
in the race of progress among the nations of the world. 




CLARA BARTON AND HhR WORK IN A CUBAN HOSPITAL 



OUR WAR WITH SPAIN. 

CHAPTEK I. 

A WAR FOR LIBERTY AND HUMANITY. 

Again at War with a Foreign Power — Spain's Significant Flag — Three Years 
Without an American Flag in Cuban Waters— Visit of the Maine to 
Havana Harbor— The Maine Blown Up by Submerged Mine — Action 
of President and Congress— Spain Defies America— Martial Spirit 
Spreading- First Guns Are Fired — Cuban Ports Blockaded — Many 
Spanish Ships Captured — Excitement in Havana — Spain and the 
United States Both Declare War— Internal Dissension Threateiis Spain 
— President McKinley Calls a Volunteer Army. 

Civilization against barbarism, freedom ag-ainst oppi"ession, educa- 
tion against iguoi*ance, progress ag.aiust retrogression, the West against 
the East, the United States against Spain. Again the flag of freedom 
has been unfurled in the face of .a foreign foe. Once more the United 
States as a nation has entered war against the people of another land. 
Again the stai'-spangled banner is moving forward through successive 
victories in the name of liberty. 

It is a proud banner, which stands the whole world over for fireedom 
and humanit}-, with few stains of defeat or injustice upon its folds. 
The great heart of the nation has swelled with pride at the righteous- 
ness of the cause in who.se aid it is now advancing, mth an assurance 
that eternal histcu'y will praise America for this yeai-'s work. On land 
and sea the boys in blue are adding to the fame of that banner. Ever\^ 
duty that they face is done at the instant and their proud record of the 
past is more than justified to-day. 

Two wars with Great Britain and one with Mexico were the more 
notable predecessors of this conflict with Spain. If to these should 
be added the hostilities between the United States and the Barbaj-y 
pirates of Algiers, Morocco and Tripoli, arid the scattered brushes with 
two or three Oriental and South American countries the list might be 
extended. But those affairs are not remembered as wars in the true 
sense of the word. 

17 



IS A WAic FoiJ i.ii:i;i;tv am> ihmamtv. 

IvMfjii fill- i>i-(iitMii(iii ajiiiinsi Iii<li:iii nuilucaks, ilic I'liiicd Siairs 
li:iil bcfu ill jiciHi' f(ir tliirty years, wlicii ilic war cloml b(';;aii tn In./in 
in llif liiiiizdii. I( was with a full n-alizaiioii of Uic blcssiii;;s df jiiacc 
thai tin- Aiiicricau ]ic()iiU' yit-ldcil to the dcinaiKls of liiiiiiauil.v and 
rijihlcdus justiri', tn taki- iiji anus ajj;aiii in the cause (if libcrlv. Tin it' 
was U(i haste, un laik of ratilidu, no I'Xrited plunjie iutii hoslililies witli- 
i»ul pi-ojiei- j;niuiids. The naliiui uiade sure that it was rij^ht. An iulid- 
eralde cnuditidU df alTairs resulliiij,^ fi-oui veais of ajionv in a ueiiilibdr 
island, with half a dozen iinuieiliale leasoiis, au.v one snllicieiit, was the 
absolute justilicatiou for this holy war. 

Spain is the Turk df the \\est. Sjiain is an (d»s(dete nation. 1/ivin^ 
in the i>asf, and lackin;,^ cause for pride to-day, she floats over lier 
j^lorions e.\p|dratidns and her intellectual jirowess of the middle aiies 
when uMich df Kurojte was in darknes.s. Then Spain's tla^' led jiioneers 
tlirdu;;hout the Wdfld. Uut her ju'ide was ba.sed (Ui acijieveinenis, many 
df which, to the jteople of any other nation, would have been the di.sjirace 
of its"liistory. No indictment of Spain «an ever be more severe, more 
scalhinj;, if its true si;,'niticance be considered, than the famous jihrase 
which one of liei* pi'oudest iMtels created lo characterize her tla^ of red 
uud yellow. 

"Saiijire y erd," he said, "blodd and i;idd — a stream of j^idd lielwceu 
twd rivers df blood." 

It is almost :i sullicieni characterization to indicate tlie wiiole na- 
tional spirit of Spain, to recall that this |ihrasi- is the proud exjires- 
sidii used by the Sjiauish jiedple td ^'hunfy their own llaj;. That senti- 
ment is in no stronjiei* contrast to (he .\mericau phrase, "the starspan- 
jrh'd banner-," than art- tin- pi-nplc of Spain to the people of the I'nitcd 
States. 

"Remember the Maine." 

I'rom tlieday of the luitbreak of the Cuban revdlution, early in IS!)."), 
until nearly the end of .lanuary, ISJIS, there had l»een no llaj; of the 
I'uited States Keen in any harber of Cuba exce]>t upon merchant vessels. 
Always before, it hail been the policy of dur jiovernment to have shijis 
of war make friendly calls in tin- harliors (»f all eounli'ie« of the wnihl 
at freipieut intervals, ami Cultan waters lunl sliared these courtesies. 

So can-fnl were the oflicers of the ( 'levelaml administratirin to avoid 
the Jippearance of ofTense or threat a^xaiust the authority <if Spain, with 
which wc were liviu}; in nmily, that imuu-diately upon the oulbreak 
r>f hdstilitii's in Cuba this practice was suspended, so far as it apidie<l 



A WAi: FOU Lir.EKTY AND m'MAXITV. 19 

to that island. Our ships rruiseil through the ocoans of tiie world and 
called at all jiorts where they were uot needed, but the waters of 
Havaua hailim- f(ir three years were never disturbed by an Amer- 
ican keel. 

Out of deference to the expressetl wishes of the local ><panish author- 
ities in Havana, Dr. Burgess, the splendid surgeon of the United States 
Marine Hospital service in Havana, who for thirty years has guarded 
our southern ports from the epidemics of yellow fever and smallpox, 
which would invade us annually as a result of Spanish misgovernment 
in Cuba, except for his watchfulness, ceased flying the American flag on 
his steam launch, by means of which he carried out his otlicial duties 
in those foul waters. The American flag was a disturbing influence 
upon the minds of the CuJbans who might see it flashing in the clear 
sunlight of the tropic sky, suggested the Captain General. 

It must have been the language of diplomacy that was in mind, 
when the satirist explained that "language was intended as a medium 
for concealing thought." President McKinley, in Ms message to Con- 
gress transmitting the report of the naval board concerning the catas- 
trophe to the Maine, explained that for some time prior to the visit of 
the battle-ship to Havana harbor, it had been considered a proper 
change in the policy, in order to accustom the people to the presence of 
our flag as a symbol of good will. The decision to send the vessel to 
that harbor was reached, it was explained, after conference with the 
, Spanish minister, and, through our diplomats, with the Spanish author- 
ities at Madrid and Havana. It was declared that this intention was 
received by the Spanish government with high appreciation of the cour- 
tesy intended, Avhich it was offered to return by sending Spanish ships 
to the principal jiorts of the United States. 

We are bound to accept this expression from the officials on both 
sides as frankly indicative of their feelings. But it is just as necessary 
to recognize that to the mass of the people in both countries, the signifi- 
cance of the Maine's courtesy call was very different. Americans be- 
lieved that it indicated a changed policy on the part of the national 
government at Washing-ton which would be more strenuous and more 
prompt in resenting outrages against the life and pi'operty of Amer- 
ican citizens in Cuba. The people of the Cuban republic believed that 
the change meant an expression of sympathy and friendship for their 
cause, with probable interference in their behalf, and took courage 
from that sign. Finally, the people of Spain resented the appearance 
of the Maine in the harbor of Havana as an affront, and a direct threat 



30 A WAi; i'»ii: i.ir.KiiTV am» ihmamtv. 

against tliciii and in fav<ir dl' tlu- insiiijj;('nts. If the jMilicv (if inakinji 
fi-('<|Mcnt calls in wai-siiips had nivi-r Im-cii intmuidtMl, they wonld not 
ha\i' liad this scnfinitMit in the inatlcr, Iml tlic rt'suiiiption of tht» 
in-acticc after thrct- years' cessatidii. carried a threat with it in their 
minds. 

Treacherous Destruction of the Maine. 

Tlie Maine entered the liarbor id Havana at snnrise oil tlie I2r)tii of 
January and was anc iiored at a jilace indicated by Hie harbormaster. 
Her arrival was marked with no special incident, except the excliaiij;c 
of customary salutes and ceremonial visits. Three wecdcs from that 
nijllit, at forty minutes ]tast nine o'clork in the evenin<i of tlie 15th 
of February, the Maine was <b'stroyed by an exidosion, by which the 
entire forwaril part of the ship was wreiked. In this frij;htful cata.s- 
trophe 2<I4 of her iiew and two ollicei's perished, those who were not 
killed oulrijihl by Hie explosion beinj:; ])enni'il between decks by the 
tangle of wrecka;;e and drowned by the immediate sinking; of her hull. 

In s]iile of the fact that the .\m<'rican iiiiblic was niiicd to susjiend 
jud^'meiil as to Hi«' causes of this disaster, and that the Spanish authori- 
ties in Havana and in .Madrid expressed jirief and synijiathy, it was 
impossible to subdue a f^jeiu'ral belief (hat in some way Spanish treat h- 
ery was responsible for the calamity. With the history of Spanish 
cnndly in Cuba before them, and the memory of Spanish barbarities 
through all their existence as a nation, (he peo]de could not disabti.sc 
their minds of this suspicion. 

One month later this popnlai* jiidunieiit was verified by the tindiu;; 
of the naval court of impiiry which had made an ixh.insi i\ c examina- 
tion of the wreck, ami had taken testimony from every available source. 
With this coidirmalion and the aroused sentiment of the country con- 
cernin;: conditions in Cuba, the lo^^ic of events was irresistibly drawiii}; 
the country toward war with Spain, ami all elTorts of diplomacy aii<l 
expressions of polite rej^ard exchan^^ed between Hie noveriniients of Hie 
two nations were unalde to avert it. 

I'<tr a few weeks, history was maile rapidly. Conservative and emi- 
nent .\merican seiialoi-s visited Cuba in order to obtain j)ersonal infor- 
nialion of conditions there, and ujion their return f^ave to Conj^^roHs and 
to the country, in ehM|iient spe<'<hos, the story of tho sufferinffs they 
had found in that unhappy islaml. The loss of the Maine had focused 
.\merican attention upon the Cuban situation as it had never been be- 
fore, ami thoiij^h there wtTe no more rea.sons for sympathetic interfer- 



A WAR FOK Lir.KliTV AXI> IH'.MANITY. 31 

enoe than Ihero had boon fur many months, people bciiaii It) realize 
as tbej' bad not before, the horrors that were being enacted at liieir 
thresholds. 

The saah)i*s who died with the Maine, even thongh they were not able 
to fight their conntry's foes, have not died in vain, for it is their death 
that will be remembered as the culminating inflnence for Ameiican 
intervention and the salvation of scores of thonsands of lives of starving 
Cuban women and children. Vessels were loaded with supplies of pro- 
visions and clothing for the suffering and were sent to the harbors 
of Cuba, where distribution was made by Miss Clara Barton and her 
trusted associates in the American National Eed Cross. Some of these 
vessels were merchant steamers, but others were American cruisers, 
and Cubans were not permitted to forget that there was a flag which 
typified liberty, not far away. The strain upon the national patience 
increased ever}- day, and was ueaiing the breaking point. 

President and Congress Act. 

After a period of restlessness in Congress which was shared by the 
whole country, the President final!}' transmitted an imp(n*tant message. 
It included a resume of the progress of the Cuban revolution from its 
beginning and considered in some detail the workings of that devastat- 
ing policy of General Weyler, known as reconcenti'ation. The message 
reiated the progress of diplomatic negotiations witli Spain, and dis- 
closed a surprising succession of events in which the Spanish govern- 
ment had submitted to various requests and recommendations of the 
American government. The message ended with a request that Con- 
gress authorize and empower the President to take measures to secure 
a full and final tenuination of the intolerable conditions on the island 
of Cuba. Having exhausted the powers of the executive in these efforts, 
it was left to the legislative authority of the American people to estab- 
lish such policies as would be finally efficient. 

Congress rose to the occasion. The facts were at command of both 
houses, their sympathies were enlisted at the side of their reason and 
there was little time lost in acting. The House and the Senate, after 
mutual concessions on minor details, passed as a law of the land for 
the President's signature, an act directing him and empowering him 
to require Spain to withdraw her troops and relinquish all authority 
over the island of Cuba. The President was authorized to employ the 
army and navy of the Ignited States for th(» purpose of carrying into 



oo A WAi; ini; I.11!1;1:TV and lir.MANlTV. 

t'lTiTt this iastnictioii ami llie iuli'ift'ii-iuc was dirootcd to be made 
at once. Best of all, from the point of view of the Cuban patriots, the 
act declared that the people of Cuba are and outrht to be free and inde- 
IK'ndeiit. Hut a few days more of diplomacy, and war was to begin. 

Spain Defies America. 

It was hardly to he cxpcclcd llial ili.> Si»aiiish •iovei'Uiiicnt and tlie 
S]ianisli jieople would yield to the tleuiands of the United States with- 
tiul a protest. So ffebh' is the Imld of the present dynasty upon tlie 
tin-one of Sjiain, ihal it was readily understood that any concession 
uptdi the part of the (2\ieen IJe^cnt W(juld arouse Spanish indignation 
beyond the liiuits of endurance. The Queen-mother had to tiiink of her 
baby son's crown. If she were to yield to the superior power of the 
I'nited StMes without a struggle, Spanish rev(dutionists would over- 
thritw the dynasty before he could come to the throne. However well 
slie might know thai the logical outcome of a war would be overwiielni- 
ing defeat to Spanisji anus, political necessities compelled her to lake 
the position dic|ate<l l>y Spanish pride. 

The Spanish ("«u'(es met in special si-ssidu al Madrid, and on the 
lidlh of .\pril I he (ineeii Kegeut delivered her speech before that legis- 
laiixc body ami ijiiiaied llial lier parliameiii was summoned in the 
hour of peril to defend her connlry's rights and her child's throne, 
whatever sacrilice might be entailed. Ii was on that same day that 
President .McKiidey presented the nllimalnm of the I'liiled Slates to 
Spain, in language di|iloMiMl ic in form. Imi caiiyinu wiili il a delinite 
notice to yield ( 'uba's freedom ami relim|uish her prelense cd' antliorily 
in that island without delay. .\ cojiy of the ullimalum was forwardeil 
to the Spanish andiassador at Washington, Senor I*olo y Iternabe, who 
respornhnl by asking for his passports and safe condnct out of the 
count ly. 

Ihning leacln-il the point wiiere dijilniii:ir\ no longer aAailed, liie 
Spanish government for the lirst time made an aggressive move against 
the Itnled States. Instead of waiting for Ihe Iransmissirm of the ulti- 
matum by .\mei-ican .Miiusler Stewart L. Woodford, the niinislry fore- 
stalled him ami disnnssed him from Madrid without alTording him an 
op|Mirtunity to )tresent thai imiioiianl docmneiil. II had bet-n Irans- 
mitted to .Madrid tiy cable from the Spanish .Miiusler in Washington, 
ami the government fell n<i need lo wait for formal messages from Ihe 
enemy's represenlative in Spain. Miiusler Woodford lefi Mailiid wilh- 



A WAK FOR Lir.EKTY AND IICMAXITY. 23 

out delay, ami liually reached the French front ier, al'ter beinij; subjected 
to many insults and attacks upon his train during the journey from 
the Sijanish capital. 

Martial Spirit Spreading. 

A wave of national patriotic enthusiasm swept over the United 
States. North and South, East and West, there was hardly a discord- 
ant note in the great choiiis of fervent applause which rose when 
it was understood that at last the forces of the nation were to be united 
in the cause of liberty and humanity. 

But sentiment could not fight battles, unless backed by material 
equipment. The nation was preparing for war. From all parts of the 
United States the troops of the regular army were hurried by special 
trains southeastward to camps at Chickamauga and Tampa. In every 
navy yard work was hurried night and day upon all incomplete battle- 
ships and cruisers. Already the fleets of the American navy had been 
concentrated at points of vantage so that little was left to be done 
on that score. Congress lost no time in providing the sinews of war 
by generous appropriations for the regular channels of supply, in addi- 
tion to one passed by unanimous vote of both houses granting 150.000,- 
000 as a special fund to be at the disposal of the President. The war 
appropriation bill and the naval appropriation bill carried with them 
emergency clauses. Preparations were made for the reorgauizaticm of 
the regular army to more than double its nonnal size, and the President 
was authorized to call for a volunteer army of 125,000 men. Lrooking 
to the future, and the possibility of a long and expensive conflict, finan- 
cial measures were prepared which would raise war revenues through 
the regular channels of taxation and the issue of bonds. Americans 
were ready to put their hands in their pockets and pay for the privi- 
lege of teaching a worthy lesson to the world. 

American sense of humor never fails, and even in this period of 
stress the people took time to smile over the stoi-y of the Spanish Min- 
ister's journey from Washington to Canada, In Toronto, Senor Polo 
sought to discredit the assaults that had been made on Minister Wood- 
ford's train in Spain, and related that he himself had been the victim 
of assaults at two or three important cities on his journey through New 
York, which threatened great danger to himself and the train on which 
he was riding. 

Upon inquiry it was revealed that the assaults whicli had aroused 



24 A WAK F()l{ LIUKUTV AND IH.MAMTY. 

his ft'ur wi'iv uol iiuile as hostile as he believed. At the divisiou sta- 
tions on the Hue, the railway employees, according to custom, passed 
alonj: the cars, tai)pin',' the tires of the wheels with steel hammers to 
test them for a possible flaw or bi-eak in the wheel, and it wa.s this 
that made the Spanish Minister believe that he was the victim of an 
American t»utraire. 



First Guns Are Fired. 

The Uuitetl States cruiser Nashville of the North Atlantic squadron, 
with headquarters at Key West, had the honor of tiling the first shot 
in our war with Spain. 

Early on the morninj: of Friday, April 22, the American fleet .sailed 
from Key West, and, ste;iming southward across the straits of Florida, 
came in sight of Havana and the frowning fort iliial ions of Morro Castle 
before six o'clock tin* same afternmni. 

Till- sailing of tin- tieet, as dawn was creejnng ()ver the Florida keys, 
was a beautiful sight and a signilicant one, for from the time the first 
signals were hoi.ste<l until many days after, there was hardly an hour 
of imutivity. It was at three o'clock in the morning that the signal 
lights began to fla.sh fi-oin the New York, Admiral Sampson's fiag><liip. 
Answering signals ajijieared on the wai-ships all along the line, and in 
a few moments bhnk smoke began to heli h from the funnels of ail the 
ships and the crews woke fnim »iuielness to artivity. 

As soon as day began to break, the cruisers and gunboats inside 
the harbor hoisttil anchors and moved out to join the big battlesliips 
which were already limil outside the bar. At five o'clock, when all 
the fleet were gafliered arouutl the battleships, Cajttain Sam])son 
signaled from the New York to go ahead. The fonnation of the line 
had been agre<'d upon some lime before and each vessid was in i)osilion 
f<)r line of battle, the New York in the center ami the Iowa and Indiana 
on either beam. The shijis present eil a most beautiful appearance as 
they HWei)t out on the ocean without a vestige of anything not abso- 
lutely necessiiry on the decks. They were strippeil of all useless su]K'r- 
stnicture. awnings, gun-covers and everything that goes to a<lorn a 
ship. Oflicei-s ]iaced the bridge, marities were drawn up on deck and 
every man was at his post. They apjieared as they were, grim fighting 
maihines, not naval vessels out on cruise nor a squadron of evolutirm 
and maneuver, but warslii|ts out for business. 



A WAR FOR LIBERTY AND IIUMAKITY. 25 

First Spanish Ship Captured. 

The fleet bad proceeded twelve miles from Sand Key Light, which 
lies seven miles southeast of Key West, when the Nashville signaled 
the flagship that a vessel flying the Spanish c(dors had been sightetl. 
Admiral Sampson signaled from the New York for the Nashville to 
go and take it. The Nashville bore down on the Spanish ship and fireil 
a blank shot fi*om the port guns aft. This did not stop the Spaniard, 
and, to give a more definite hint, a solid shot was fired close over its 
bows. The Spanish ship immediately hove to and waited to know its 
fate. 

The vessel proved to be the Buena Ventura, with a oi-ew of about 
thirty men, bound from Pascagoula to Rotterdam with a cargo of 
lumber, cattle and miscellaneous freight. As soon as possible a boat 
was lowered from the Nashville and an officer was sent aboard the 
Buena Ventura,. When the Spanish cai>taiu was informed that his ship 
could not proceed, he took liis capture gracefully, shrugged his shoul- 
ders, and said he supposed it was onl^- the fortune of war. It was sug- 
gested to him that the capture of a ship bearing that name, which, 
translated, means "good fortune," as the first prize of the American 
fleet in the w^ar, seemed to be a striking coincidence. A prize crew of 
marines under Ensign T. P. MagTuder was placed aboard, and, with the 
Nashville in the lead, both ships set out for Key West. 

Inasmuch as the Buena Ventura w'as the first capture by the Amer- 
ican navy in the war, it had a more definite interest than a success of 
the same sort would have a few months later. The first shot was fired 
by Gunner Michael Mallia of the Nashville, who therefore has the dis- 
tinction of firing the first sliot in the war. The prize was a rich one, 
estimated to be worth, including vessel and cargo, nearly |500,000, 
and tlie prize money resulting became a tempting amoimt. Captain 
Washburne Maynard, commander of the Nashville, who gained the dis- 
tinction of making the first capture, is a native of Knoxville, Tenn. He 
is a son of former United States Senator Horace Maynard, and at the 
time of the capture was about fifty years old. He entered the An- 
napolis Naval Academy at the age of seventeen and graduated at the 
head of his class. He was for a number of years stationed in Alaska, 
and at the time of gaining his preisent distinction had been in command 
of the Nashville for four years. 

Blockade of Havana Begun. 

After the Nashville left the fleet to return to Key West with its 
prize, the remaining vessels of the squadi"on steamed onward toward 



'^i-, A WAi: F()|; I.II'.KKTV ANH III MANITV. 

till* ("ubiiii foasl. Coiiiiii^ witliiii liflt-in luik's of Muiro Castli', the lloct 
scatftTtMl ill a iiioi-i' npcii liiK' of battle, .sdiiic of the vessels turuiiij,^ to 
tile east and others to the west, and niaUiii^ tiie blockade of the jiort 
roniplete. No shi]» conld enter or leave the harbor, and every day 
broiijrlit new jirizes to the vessels of the blockadiiij;' squadron. 

The blockade of the Cuban luetropolis was well in pro<;ross by the 
time the formal notilicatiou of it was issued. The President issued 
warriiii;: to the nations of the woi-Jd that IIh' Cuban poi-ts were seale<l 
l»y the aiillinriiy of ihc riiiliMl Slaii-s, in ilic fniluwin^- f(»nual proclaiu- 
ation: 

i:V Till-: riJKSIDKNT OI' TIIK rXITKl) STATES: A ri{()( "LA.M ATION. 

NNlicrcas. \i\ a joint rcsulution passed by the Conirress and ajiproved .\pril 
2(1. ISllS, and coniinunicaled to tlw {;t)verniiicii( «.f Spain, it was demanded tliat 
said ;;i)vciniiienl at once rclinuuisli its autlioiily and fiovernnunt in the island 
of <'iiba, and wiliidraw its land and naval foicts from Cuba and Cuban waters; 
and the I'rcsidcnt of the Iniled States was directed and emiiinvered to use 
tile entire land and naval forces of the I'lnted Slates and to call into the actual 
siMvice of the Iniled Stales the ndlilia of the several Stales to such extent 
as nii^jlil be necessary to carry said resolution into etl'ect ; anil 

Whereas. In carrying: into elfect tliis resolution the l'risi<i( lit of the 
I'nited States ileeiiis it necessary to .set on foot and iiiainlaiii a liiockade of the 
north coast of Cuba, including all p(U-ts of said coast iietwi-eii Cardenas and 
H.iliia Moiida and the port of Cieiifue<;os. on the south coast of Cuba ; 

.Now. tlieref.iie, I, William .Mckinley, I'lesident of the Iniled States, 
ill order to enforce the said resolution, do hi'ieby declare and ]U'(iclaiiii that the 
riiiled States of .\iiierica has instituted and will maintain a blockade of the 
noi'ili I'oast of Cuba, iiicliidin<; ports lui .said coast between Cai'deiias and 
ISaliia Honda, and the port of Cieiifiiei.'os on the south coast of Cuba, afiu'e- 
said, in pursuance of the law s of the I'liiied Stales .'iiid (lie law of nations a|i 
plicable to such casi-s. 

.Vii efllcieiit force will bi- posted so as to ]M'eveiit the entrance and exit of 
vessels from the ports aforesaid. .\iiy neiilial vessel a|ipi'oacliiii<; said ports, 
<ir atteiiipiin^ to leave the same, without notice or kiio\vled;re of tlii' eslab- 
lishnieiii (if such blockade, will be duly warned by (lie coiiiman<1er of the 
blockailin;: forces, who will ind(U-se on her rej.'ister the fad and the date 
of such warning;, where such indorsement was made; and if the same vessel 
shall :i|;ain atlempt to enter any blockaded pint she will lie ca]ilui-ed ami sent 
lo the nearest convenieni pint f<U' such juociislin^xs afiainst her and her cart;o 
lis prize iiH may be deemed advisable. Neutral vessels lyinji in any of said 
ports at the time of the establishment of sin h blockade will be allowed thirty 

thns to issue Ihelefrom. 



A AVAR FOR LIBERTY ASU HUMANITY. 27 

In witui'ss whereof I have liereiinto set my hand and caused the seal 
of the United States to be affixed. 

Done at the cit.y of AVashington tliis 22d day of April, A. D. ISDS, and of 
the independence of the United States the one hundred and twenty-second. 

By the President: WILLIAM M'KINLEY. 

JOHN SHERMAN, Secretary of State. 

More Spanish Prizes Taken. 

The blockade was not a mere paper blockade, but an exceedingly 
effective one. Before two days had passed, the prizes taken began to 
multiply in numbers and in value. The second capture was the Spanish 
freighter Pedro, of Bilboa, which was taken by the New York in the 
afternoon of the first day's cruising. 

When the fleet approached the Cuban coast and spread out for patrol 
duty, the New Y'ork turned eastward for her own watch, not kuowing 
what might be found in the neighborhood. Far off against the dim, 
vague background of Cuban hills, half seen, half guessed, could be 
traced a faint film of gray smoke, the one visible evidence of a Spanish 
freighter striving vainly to race out the day without being discovered 
by the great gray monsters that blackened the sky to the west with a 
solid mass of black cloud from their roaring furnaces. 

Vainly the Spaniard raced. Charging along at trial test speed, the 
New Y^ork soon lay across the bows of the Spauish ship, and the crash- 
ing challenge blazed from the deck of the cruiser. A huge puff of white 
smoke rolled out from the side of the flagship, and far off, just in front of 
the Spaniard, a fountain of white foam leaped into the air. In a 
moment the course of the strange Spaniai-d was changed, ajid she 
hove to. 

Shortly after, the New York led her jirize further out from shore 
and laid her to. Cre-w and captain could be seen rushing about the 
deck of the ship like a nest of ants, hiding their valuables and striving 
to avert some impending fate they could only guess at in their ignorance. 
As she came around her name could be clearly read on lier st(>rn, Pedro 
of Bilboa. 

As soon as she was laid alongside, the Pedi'o was boarded by Ensign 
Frank Marble of the New York. Ensign ^larble^ led a pi'\ze crew, con- 
sisting of a file of marines and seamen. With great formality the en- 
sign swung aboard and assumed command. A burly, bare-footed Ameri- 
can tar shoved the Spanish quartorniaster away from (he wheel and 



28 A WAK FOU LIUKKTY AN1> IILMANITY. 

bt'-iiiu to set till' cDurse of the Spaniiinl. The Si)anish crew >iatlu'i"i'd in 
a terrifu'tl huddle near the forecastle and awaited devel<)])nieuts. 

Hardly had the prize crew been put on board beforeanother freighter 
was seen jioinj;- down the coast to the eastward. The New York, leaving 
the captured Spanish craft in charge nf the i)rize crew, drew a(M*oss the 
bows of the stranger and sent a shot into ilic walcr directlj' in fi*ont of 
her bows. She paid no attention to the challenge, but kept steadily 
on, anil a lew seconds later another shot was sent hurtliug across the 
water in front of her. After this hostile demonstration she hauled up 
and soon followed the New York ont to sea. It was discovered, how- 
ever, that she ticw the (icrinan Hag, and coiisc<|U('Ut ly was lU'ruiittcd 
to proceed. 

The ])rize crew from the New York took the captured vessel into 
jiort at Key West under its own steam. The ship was bound fiom 
Havana to Santiago with a valuable cargo of rice, ii-ou and beer. On 
th(' same day two <)ther captures were made, one by the torpedo boat 
Ericsson, which seized a lishing schooner uinici- I he verj' guns of Slorro 
("astle and by Ihetorjx'do boat, I'orter, wliidi took (he Spanish schooner, 
Malhilde, alli r a lively chase and a nninher nl" shots. Roth of these 
"prizes were la ken to Key ^\■est l<i join I heif nnfoitunale frieinls. 

Excitement in Havana. 

It was nearly live o'clock in the afternoon of I hat lucky Friday, when 
the .semaphore by the lighthouse in Morro <"as11e signaled to the iieojile 
of Havana that a tleel had been sigiitcd. It was said to be willmul any 
colors to show ils nationality. At that, time La I'nula, the foil on the 
siile of the harbor o]»i>osite .Mm to Castle, was crowded wiili curious 
peoi)le, including many ladies. In addition, crowds of peojije could be 
seen at various poinls of vantage, iii;iiiy of ilieni g.iiiiering on the roofs 
<)f houses. At (I p. m. the sema]>hore signaled ilial it was the United 
States (leet whirji was in sight, and at (!:1."> p. m. a re<l Hag was run uj) 
at the signal station, wajidng guns were tired from Morro Castle, and 
afterward from Cabanas fortres.s, adjoining it. This cau.sed e.\citem(>nl 
Ihroiighout the city, and was the first real note of war. When the first 
signal came from the semaphore station a IJrilish schooner which was 
in the harbor jmt to .s(»a. She was immediately followed by the fJennan 
steamer Jlemus. Some time afterward the American steamer Saratoga 
put to sea. 

The i-aniion shots from the foi-(resses stirre(l up the regidar troops 



A WAK FOK Lll'.EHTY AND HUMANITY. 29 

and volimtoei's throughout llavaua aud its viciuity aud there was a 
rush to quarters. The signal guns from the fortilications echoed to 
the pahice and through the streets, causing people to rush from their 
houses, with the result that all the thoroughfares were soon crowded 
with excited inhabitants. Captain General Blanco heard the .shots while 
at the palace, to Avhich place the generals and commanders of the yolun- 
teers promptly repoi'ted, full of excitement and warlike enthusiasm, 
^ome time aften\'ard the Captain General, accompanied by his staff, 
the generals and others, left the palace and was warmly acclaimed by 
the soldiers and populace. The General then made a brief final inspec- 
tion of the fortifications and went to a spot from which he could see the 
approaching fleet. 

There was no sign of alarm anywhere. The Spaniards were con- 
fident that Havana was prepared for any eventuality, and they had 
great faith in the strength of their forts, batteries, etc., and in the 
effectiveness of their heavy artillery. In fact, there was a feeling of 
satisfaction at the warlike tremors which spread evei^^where when it 
was seen that the hour of battle was apparently approaching and that 
the Spaniards were soon to give battle to their enemies. 

As the time passed, more people crowded to the spot from which 
the fleets could be most favorably seen. By 8:30 p. m. there was a great 
movement of the masses througli all the streets and on all the squares. 
The coffee-houses and clubs were crowded with excited people, discuss- 
ing the aiTival of the Amei'ican war ships. The Spaniards expressed 
themselves as anxious to measure arms with the "invaders," and tliere 
was no expression of doubt as to the result. The civil and military 
authorities of Havana were in consultation at the palace, and every 
precaution possible to the Spaniards was taken to guard against a night 
surprise and to resist an attack if the bombardment commenced. 

Spain's Days of Grace Expire. 

When President McKinley sent his ultimatum to Spain, he indicated 
that it was to expire at noon on Saturday, April 23, aud at that time 
the period allowed Spain to give up Cuba peacefully was ended. Spain, 
however, had not waited to take advantage of this time limit, but by 
her own preparations during the days tliat had passed, as well as by her 
diploumtic actions, liad indicated plainly that wax* was to come. The 
action of Jlinister .Polo in demanding his passport and leaving the 
United States, and the action of the Spanish government in ejecting 



:;o A WAU F(m; i.ii:i;i:tv am> hi mamtv. 

Miiiisli'i- Woudlunl, were* .suniciL'Ul uuliluatidus uf the jiulicy wiucli was 
to be i)ur.suetl. It bad boon unueoessary, tberefore, for tbe fltH?t to wait 
fur a more exi)li(it answer befnre iuvestin*; Havana, Not until tlie 
expiration of tbe time all<iili-il by Pri-sident MtKinley to Spain, did be 
take di'linite action wliiib tummittetl tbe country to a distinct war 
policy in advance of tlie decbiratiun of war by ronf^ress. But at ncw^n 
on Saturday tbe I'resident issued tbe followini; proclamation callini; for 
lL'ri,(MIO troo))s tt» serve two years if tbe war sbould last so Ion;;: 

i;v TiiK i'i;i;sii»i;.\T (d'Tiii-; imti:i> s'iatiis: a riJofLA.MA'i'iox. 

WliiTcas, by a joint rcsobilion of ('(>nj;nss, approved tlie L'L'd of April, 
IMtS, eiiiitb-d "rluint rcsobitiou for tbe reco},mition of tlie iudepeudeuce of tbe 
people of Cuba, deiiiandiii;,' tbat tbe fiovcrnnient of Spain reliiKpiisb its autbor- 
ily and pivernnient in tbe island of Cuba, to witbdraw its land and naval 
forces from Cuba and Cidiau waters, and dircctiuj; tbe I'resident of I he 
Initi'd Slates to use tbe laud and naval forces of tbe United Stales lo (any 
tbese rcsohilious into elTecl," anil, 

W'lieri'as, by an act of Conj;ress, enlillcd "An act to provide for ihc iii- 
crrasin^ of tlic ndlilary eslablisbnieni of tbe Cniled States iu time of war 
and for oilier purposes," ap]iroved i\pril '2'2, ISIKS, tbe I'lvsidcnt was aiillior 
ized iu order to raise a voluuleer ai'Uiy to issiu' bis iiroilaiiiation railing; fur 
voluuleers to serve in llie ai'Uiy of tbe I'nited Stales. 

Now, llierefore, I. Williaui .McKinley. I'resident of tbe Iniled Slates, by 
tbe po\vi-r vested in me by tbe constitution ajid laws, and deeming; sullicient 
occasion to exist, liave tboufilit lit lo call for and liereby do call for volun- 
teers lo llie aK};re;;ale uiiuiber of lli.">,ll(10, in oider to carry into effect tbe 
pui'|iose of tbe said rcsobilion, tbe same to be apixirlioned, as far as practi- 
cable, amon^ tbe seveial Slates and Territories and tbe District of Columbia, 
according; to population, anil to serve for two years unless soonei- discliar};e<l. 
Tbe details for tliis object will be immediately communicated to tbe i)ro]>er 
autlmrilies tlirouuli tbe war deparlmeiil. 

In witness wbereof, I liave bereunto set my liaiid. ami caused tbe seal of 
tbe rnitiMl States to be aflixed. 

Doui- at Wasbin^lon tliis l2.".d day of Api-il. ls!ls. and of ilic indiiieiidriice 
of tbe I'nited States tbe one biindred and I weiily sei-mid. 

I!y Ibe I'residenl: WILLIAM Mk' INLKV. 

.inllN SIIKK.MAN. Senetary of Stale. 

States Begin to Collect Their Troops. 

.\ltbo\i;,di it wa.s decide<l tbat formal notification to tbe Gnvernors 
nf t||.. vt:ii.- ..r t)).. .-alt foi- vnlniit.eis sbnntd not be Tuade until tbe f(d- 



A WAR FOK LIBERTY AXI> HUMANITY. 31 

lowing Moiuliiy, the lii'.st stop was taken iniine<liately after the signing 
of the proclanialiou, by the issuance of orders to the organized militia 
of the District of Columbia. Before dinner time the drums were beating 
and the roll was being called within sight and sound of the White 
House, and before night the drum beats were lieaid from the Atlantic 
to the Pacific and from the Gulf of Mexico to the Great Lakes. 

There was no interruption in the sequence of captures by the Ameri- 
can fleet around Havana, and two prizes of considerable value were 
added to the list. On Saturday the gunboat Helena took the big steamer 
Miguel Jover, a vessel of more than 2,000 tons, with a full cargo of cot- 
ton and staves on board. The prize was worth not less than |400,000. 
Friday night the Helena left Key West to follow the main lleet, but 
instead of sailing directly for Havana, turned westward toward the 
west end of the island of Cuba. The dark, cloudy night had barely 
broken to a brilliant Cuban sunrise, when the Helena saw smoke on 
the western hoi'izon and gave chase. 

It was soon evident that the quarry had sighted the hunter and was 
making a run for it. The freighter was no match in speed for the gun- 
boat, however, and the Helena was soon ne:xr enough to tire a shot. 
Only one blank shot was required. The fugitive steamer shook out the 
Spanish flag and hove to. When the Helena came up the captain tried 
to talk Cajjtain Swinburne out of his prize. He urged that he was from 
an American port, New Orleans, and kncAV nothing of a declaration of 
war. The talk did him no good. He was taken on board the Helena 
and a prize crew of a dozen sailors and sixteen marines, under Ensigns 
M. C. Davis and H. G. McFarland, was put aboard the Jover. 

The first the fleet knew of the captui-e was when the Helena came 
steaming up with her prize and signaled the flagship. The other ships 
cheered and the Helena started off for Key West, the Jover being 
worked by its own men, superintended by the prize crew. 

Valuable Prize Captured. 

The most valuable prize yet taken was the transatlantic liner, Cat- 
alina, which was taken by the Detroit. The vessel's tonnage was (i,000, 
and with its general cargo the prize was considered worth nearly .^GOO,- 
000. The big ship was bound from New Orleans to Bai-celona, via 
Havana, with a large general cargo. Twelve miles before making port 
the steamer was stopped by two shots, and a prize crew under Ensign 
H. H. Christy, consisting of sixteen men from the Detroit and New 
York, .was put on board to take the vessel back to Key West. 



.32 A WAK von I.ll'.KUTV AND IHMAXITV. 

In additiou to tbcso notable captuirs the toipeilo boat, Porter, took 
the Si)aiiisli schooner, Antonio, hiden with su<i,ar for Ilavaiia, ami tlie 
revenue cutter, Wiuoua, added the Spaiii.sli steamer Satuniiua to the 
list. 

If it had not bei»n for the excitement of taking' occasional prizes, 
the blockadiu}^ of Havana would have been dull business for the .Jack 
Tars aboard the North Atlantic squadron. Saturday night they had to 
listen to the roar of the guns of Morro Ca.stle and see the flashes of tire 
from their muzzles, without a reply from the fleet. Havana officials 
have declared that the discharge of those guns was only for signaling 
I)nri>oses and was not an attack on the fleet, but it would be difficult to 
make the sailors believe that Spanish marksmanship was not respon- 
sible fttr tile fact that no balls fell near them. 

Spain Declares War. 

The Spanish government did not wait for further aggression on the 
part of the United States, but herself made the next formal move by 
issuing a declarati<m of the fact that war existed, and defining the con- 
ditions under which the Spanish government expected to caiTv on the 
conflict. This decree was gazetttxl in Madrid on Sunday, April 24, in the 
following terms: 

diplomatic iclaliniis aic lirokcii oil' Ik-Iwccii Simiu and llie I'liitcd States, 
and the stale of war having bi'f^uu between the two countries numerous ques- 
tions of international law arise which unist he pi'wisely defined cluefly be- 
ciinse the injustice aiid provocation come from our adversaries and i( is they 
will), by their detestable conduct, have caused this grave contiict. 

We have observed with strictest lidelity the i»rinciples of international 
l;iw and have shown the most scnipulons respect for nu)rality and the right 
of governmi'nt. There is an ()i)inion that the fart that we have not adhered 
to the declaration of I'aris does not exempt ns from the duty of resjiecting 
the i)rinciples therein ennncialed. The i)rin(iple Spain nncpiestionably re- 
fused to admit then was the aliolition of privateering. The governnu'ut now 
(iinsiders it most indispensable to make absolute ri'sei-ve on this point in 
order to maintain our liberly of action and uncontested right to have recourse 
to privateering when wi' consider it ex])edient, first by organizing immediately 
a force of cruisers auxiliary to the navy, which will be composed of vessels 
of (Mil- mercantile mai'ine and with ei|ii;d distinction in the work of oni' navy. 

• laiise 1 — The state of war existing between Spain and the United States 
annuls the treaty of peace and andty of Oct. 27, 17!)5, and the protocol of 
.Ian. 112, 1877, and all other agreemcnt.s, treaties, or conventions in force 
between the (wo countries. • 



A WAR FOR LIBERTY AND HUMANITY. 33 

Clause 2 — From the publication of these presents thirty days are granted 
to all ships of the United States anchored in our harbors to take their de- 
parture free of hindrance. 

Clause 3 — Notwithstanding that Spain has not adhered to the declaration 
of Paris the government, respecting the principles of the law of nations, pro- 
poses to observe, and hereby orders to be observed, the following regu- 
lations of maritime law: 

1. Neutral flags cover the enemy's merchandise except contraband of 
war. 

2. Neutral merchandise, except contraband of war, is not seizirijle under 
the enemy's (lag. 

3. A blockade to be obligatory must be effective — viz.: It must be main- 
tained with sufficient force to prevent access to the enemy's littoral. 

4. The Spanish government, upholding its right to grant letters of 
marque, will at present confine itself to organizing, with, the vessels of the 
mercantile marine, a force of auxiliary cruisers which will co-operate with the 
navy according to the needs of the campaign and will be under naval 
control. 

5. In order to capture the enemy's ships and confiscate the enemy's mer- 
chandise and contraband of war under whatever form, the auxiliary cruisers 
will exercise the right of search on the high seas and in the waters under 
the enemy's jurisdiction, in accordance with international law and the regu- 
lations which will be published. 

C. Defines what is included in contraband of war, naming weapons, am- 
munition, equipments, engines, and, in general, all the appliances used in war. 

7. To be regarded and judged as pirates with all the rigor of the law 
are captains, masters, oflicers, and two-thirds of the crews of vessels which, 
not being American, shall commit acts of war against Spain, even if provided 
with letters of marque issued by the United States. 

Following is a summary of the more importaut of the five clauses 
outliuiug the rules Spain auuouuced she would obsen^e during the war: 

The United States Makes Reply. 

it took the House of Representatives just one minute and forty-one 
seconds on Monday to pass a declaration of war which replied to that 
of Spain. The Senate acted almost as promptly, and their respective 
presiding officers and the President of the United States signed the Act 
of Congress immediatelj-, so that it became at once a law of the land. 
The declaration of war was passed by Congress in response to a message 
from the President requesting that action in the following terms: 



34 A W AK FOH LIBKHTV AND HUMANITY. 

TO TUE SENATE AND HOUSE OF KEl'KESENTATIVES OF THE 
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: 

I transuiit to ron-^jrcss for its coiisidcration aiul ainnopriate action lopit's 
of corrt'spdiulcucc inciitlv had with the rcpifsi'iitative of Spain in tlic 
Uniti'd Statrs, with the United States Minister at Madrid, and thronjih the 
latter witli the {;overunient of Sj)ain, showing tlie action taken under tlie 
joint resolution approved April 20, ISitS, "for the recognition of the inde- 
pendence of the people of Cuba, demanding that the goverrffiient of Spain 
relincpiish its authority and government in the island of Cuba and to with- 
draw its land and naval forces from Cuba and Cuban waters, and directing 
the I'resident of the United States to carry these resolutions into etlect." 

Upon communicating with the Spanish Minister in Washington the de- 
mand which it became the duty of the executive to address to the government 
of Spain, in obedience to said resolution, the said Minister asked for his pass- 
poi-ts and withdrew. The United States Jlinister at Madrid was in turn 
notified by the Sjianish Minister for Foreign Affairs that the withdrawal of 
the Si)anisli rejiieseutative from the I'nited States had terminated diplo- 
matic relations between the two cimntries, and that all ofticial commuuica 
tions between their resjiective representatives ceased therewith. 

I recommend to your special attention the note addressed to t!ie Uniitd 
States Minister at Madrid by the Spanish .Minister for Foreign AITairs on the 
'Jlst inst., whereby the foregoing notilicatitui was conveyed. It will be per- 
ceived (herefiom that the government of Sjiain, having cognizance of the 
joint resolution of the United Stales Ci)ngri'.ss, and in view of things which 
the Tresident is thereby recjuired and authorized to do, resjtonds by treating 
the representative demands of this government as measures of hostility, fol- 
lowing with that instant and comjdete severance of relations by its action 
whereby the u.sage of nations accomjianies an existent state of war between 
novereign powers. 

The position of S|PMiii being tiius mailc known. an<l the deiiiands of the 
United Stales being denied, with a complete rupture of intercourse by the act 
of Spain, 1 have been constrained, in exiK ise of the power and authority 
conferred upon me by the joint resolution aforesaid, to proclaim, under date of 
April -'2, l.Mts, a blorkade of certain ports on the north coast of <'uba lying 
between Cardenas aiKl Uahia Honda, and of the i)ort of Cienfuegos on the 
south coast of Cuba; and fiiither, in I'xerci.se of my constitutional jtowiis, 
and using the authority conferred upon me by the act of Congress ai>proved 
Ajiril 'S2. ISilS, to issue my proclamation, dated Ajiril '2'.^, ISflS, calling for 
volunteers in order to carry into ellect the said resolutions of .\pril 20, 1S9S. 
Copies of these iiroclamalioiis are hen-to aj»[iended. 

In vi«'w of tin- nii'asuroH so taken, and with a view to the adoption of sucli 
oilier nieasiin-.K as may be necessary to enalile me to carry out the ex|)ressed 
(vill of the Congress of the United States in the lu'cmises, I now recommend 



A WAR FOR LIBERTY AND HUMANITY. 35 

to your honorable body the adoption of a joint resolution declaring that a 
state of war exists between the United States of America and the Kingdom 
of Spain, and I urge speedy action thereon, to the end that the definilion 
of the international status of the United States as a belligerent power may be 
made known, and the assertion of all its rights and the maintenance of all 
its duties in the conduct of a public war may be assured. 

WILLIAM M'KINLEY. 
Executive Mansion, Washington, April 25, 1898. 

War Is Declared. 

The formal declaration of war as passed by the bouses of Congress 
was short and pointed, worthy of recollection as a model for such un- 
pleasant documents. It read as follows: 

A BILL DECLARING THAT WAR EXISTS BETWEEN THE UNITED 

STATES OF AMERICA AND THE KINGDOM OF SPAIN. 
Be it enacted, etc.: 

First — That war be and the same is hereby declared to exist and that war 
has existed since the 21st day of April, A. D. 1898, including said day, between 
the United States of America and the Kingdom of Spain. 

Second — That the President of the United States be, and he hereby is, 
directed and empowered to use the entire land and naval forces of the United 
States and to call into the actual service of the United States the militia of 
the several States to such extent as may be necessary to carry this act 
into effect. 

Diplomacy was still taking a hand in the war. Spain Avas indignant 
at the attack on Spanish possessions and endeavored to arouse sympathy 
among her European neighbors. The (Jueen Regent addressed tele- 
grams to all the sovereigns of Europe protesting against the vitiation 
of the rights of Spain by the United States, and declaring that her gov- 
ernment was firmly resolved never to yield until crushed. This was a 
personal communication from one sovereign to her brother sovereigns 
of the continental kingdom. At the same time there was made public 
Spain's memorandum to all the European powders which was an official 
utterance of the Spanish ministry and signed by SeCor Gullon, the 
Spanish Minister of Foreign Afl'airs. 

The memorandum began by recording the "moral and material aid 
the Cuban rebels have received from the United States" in filibustering 
expeditious and the operations of the junta. It mentioned Spain's re- 



36 A WAK FOH LIBERTY AND IIIMANITY. 

IR'atc'il auil posilivi' dt'iiials to the allcgatiuiis of ti'iiclty towiu'd the 
Cubans, aud laid yivat stress upou Presideut Cleveland'.s dispatcL tif 
Dec. 7, 18!i(», to the effeet tliat peace wuiihl be possible if Spain gave a 
sufficient autonomy to Cuba, 

The menioranduin contended that, in the face of the new liberal 
constitution granted Cuba, which "has already bonie fruits," it waa 
difficult to understand why President McKiuley, in his message of Dec. 
(5, 1S9T, and General Woo.lford, in the note of Dec. 20, 1897, should still 
doubt Si)ain's loyalty. 

The document tlien spoke at .some length of the Maine accident, and 
asserted that the Americans, under the pretext of the extra territori- 
ality of the ve.s.sel, never allowed tJie Spaiush authorities to visit the 
wreck for purposes of investigation; and it most stdemnly a.sserted the 
absolute inuocenie of Spanish olVnials and of Spanisii subjects gen- 
erally. 

The fairness and loyalty of Spain were then shown bj- a reference to 
the equitable treatment which American filibusters, more especially 
those of the ComjK'titor, received at the hands of Spain, and in order 
to show more fully how pacific and convct have been the attitude of 
the S]>anish government the mem<>randum euumerateil the four clauses 
of th«' Siiaiiisli pro]ii>siiIs. Tiiey were: 

Proposals of Spain. 

1. An offer to subnut all (picsiioiis arising from the Maine affair to 
arbitration. 

'2. All nrilcr to ("lovernordcneral Planco to I'etire into the western 
provinces and to api)ly ;5,000,0()0 iK'setas for the relief of the agricultural 
population, with an acce]»tance by the Spanish government of relief 
for Cubans .sent by the T'nited States, ]M"ovided such relief were sent in 
merchant vessels. 

3. The co-operation of the (Id)an parliament in formulating the 
extent of the powers to be reserved for the central government. 

4. In view of the Cuban parliament n<it niccljiig before May 4, the 
jM'oclamation t>f an immeiliate armistice. 

Tiie memorandum proceeded to declare that the United States had 
not acce])ted even thes<> far-reaching c(mcessions, and that the good 
offices of tlie ])ope had be(>n erjually unavailing. It as.serted that the 
Maine accident was used by political parlies in .\merica as a means of 
hurling "most gratuitruis and intolei-alilr nilnninies at the Spanish 



A WAR FOR LIBERTY AND HUMANITY. 37 

government," and yet, the document said, Mr. Olney, in an official note 
dated April 4, 1S9C, to the Spanish minister in Washington, himself 
expressed very serious apprehensions lest tlie only existing bond of 
union in Cuba should disappear in the event of Spain withdrawing 
from that island. Mr. Olney, as the memorandum argued, feared at 
that time that a war of races would ensue, all the more sanguinary in 
proportion to the experience and discipline acquired during the insur- 
rection, and that two republics would at once be formed — one white, 
the other black — the upshot being that one of the two would swallow 
the other. 

The grave view thus taken by Mr. Olney of the future of Cuba freed 
from Spain's rule was then enlarged upon, and inevitable racial wars 
were foreshadowed, which were "certain to wreck the existence of Cuba 
as a state, should Spain be deprived of sovereignty" over the island. 
Thus, being convinced, as Spain was, that right and equity are on her 
side "she will not and cannot surrender her sovereignty in Cuba." 

Trouble for Spain at Home. 

Spain's embaiTassments at home were multiplying, and thi*eatening 
danger only less than that from the hostilities .of the United States. 
Twenty thousand republicans of all shades of opinion in Madrid 
signed and addressed to Seiior Castelar, the republican leader, under 
the pretext of congratulating him upon his recovei-y from recent 
sickness, but in reality offering him their services if he would proclaim 
a republic. 

At the same time Don Carlos, the pretender to the Spanish throne, 
was a disturbing element, threatening a revolution against the present 
dynasty if an opportunity were to offer. 

During all these complications, which included at one time even a 
threa.t that the Spanish ministry would resign, there was no discordant 
note of any sort in the United States. Secretai-y of State John Sherman 
and Postmaster General Gary resigned from President McKinley's 
cabinet because of ill health, in order that the government might be 
in no way handicapped during the time of emergency. Secretary Sher- 
man was succeeded by Assistant Secretary Judge William E. Day of 
Canton, Ohio, who had displayed remarkable aptitude for the office 
during his term of service, while Mr. Gai-y's successor was the Honor- 
able Charles Emory Smith, of Philadelphia, a newspaper editor and 
formerly ambassador to Russia. 



38 A WAK IY)R LIliKRTV AND inMAXITY. 

Along the Cuban Coast. 

It was the torpedo boats which kept thiiij^s exeitiny duriug theearly 
bh>ekade of Cuban ix)rts. Thej' aj'e like hornets, which travel faster 
than an^-thing that tries to escape them, sting when the}- strike, and 
vanish in an instant. Two of these brisk lighters di.stinguished them- 
selves on Sunday, while the diphmiats were busy in the cabinets of the 
world. Tlie torpedo boat PoHer, which is a.s lleet as an express train, 
has a dare-devil crew and an intrejiid commander with an honored 
name. He is Lieutenant Joiin (\ Freuiont, a son of the famous "Path- 
tinder," who himself never hesitated to lead the way, whether in w ildcr- 
ness exploratioH or any other duty that came before him. 

Lieutenant Frenmnt, with tlie I'oi-ter, made a lauding on tiu' north 
coast of Cuba witii a suiall force of his nu'U, in search of certain infonua- 
tiou which was desired by Admiral Sampson for the guidance of his 
plaus. It was a dangerous undertaking, for the squad might havebeen 
wijMi'd out in spite of their readiness to fight, if thej- had stumbled uiwn 
Spanish trooi)s. Noue were met, however, the jouniey was made in 
safety, aiul the landing ])arty returned lo the Hcct in irium]ili witli the 
distiucfion of being tlie first actual invaders of the Cuban soil in this 
warfare. 

Ivirlier in the same day the torjiedo boat Foote, in command of 
Lieutenant W. L. Koger.s, was directed to take soundings of the ap- 
Iu-o;ich to llu' harbor of JIatanzas, an important city on the north coast 
of Cuba (ifly miles east of llavami. The Foote drew the first fire 
definitely known lo be directed against the blockading squadron. The 
little scout was taking soinuliugs within thice hundred yaitls of shore, 
when a Spanish masked battery on the ea.st side of the harbor, command- 
ing the eutran<e, fire<l three shots in quick succession. They all went 
wide of the mark, .striking the water nearly a quarter of a mile away 
from the boat. The ollicers au<l men were momejitarily startled by the 
volley, and (hen coulinueil their obsei'vation. The cruiser f'incinnati, 
which was not faraway, was hailed by thet(U'pe<lo boat and Lieutenant 
Kogers repoi'ted his exiM-i-ieiice. The (U'dei-s of Captain Chester, in 
commatid of the Cincinnati, did not ]ierinit him to shell .Mntanzas, so 
the fire friuu the masked b.ittery was not re(urnt<l. 

The Call to Arms. 

It wa.s on Monday, the 2i5th of April, that the national authorities 
nnlilied the governors of each state that they Avould be expected to fur- 



A WAR FOR LIBERTY AND HUMANITY. 39 

nish volunteers for our war with Spain. The response was immediate. 
In every state of the Union the call to arms was heard with delight 
and troops gathered at their armories for prompt enlistment. The speed 
and facility with which a trained and efficient anuy could be mobilized 
was an amazement to those who had not been familiar w'ith the details 
of the organization of the National Guard of America. Within twenty- 
four hours after the receipt of the order, thousands of troops were 
moving to the state encampments where they had been directed to 
gather. Illinois was an example of this promptness, in sending nearly 
5,000 men out of Chicago without delay, but this was no more notable 
than the record made by many other states in every part of the Union. 
The cheers and the blessings of hundreds of thousands of loyal citizens 
stimulated those who were to go to the fi"ont with the banner of free- 
dom, and they realized that they were representing the sentiment of a 
united nation. 

Those days near the end of April were exciting times. The whole 
nation was keyed up to a nervous tension of anxiety to know what 
would be the next event recorded on laud or sea. The annies of the 
United States were preparing for the struggle, the coast defenses were 
brought to completion, and the government was ready for any emergency 
that might arise. Admiral SampvSon's splendid North Atlantic squad- 
ron was blockading the ports of Cuba. Admiral Schley, with the flying 
squadron at Hampton Roads, was ready for prompt action in any 
direction w'hei-e it might be effective, whether to protect the Atlantic 
coast cities from a. threatened assault by Spanish warships, or to descend 
upon the Spanish fleet for a naval battle. 

Admiral Dewey with the Asiatic squadron had been driven out of 
Hong Kong by application of the neutrality laws, and international 
obligations might embarrass him unless he took the aggi'essive, and 
made for himself a base of supplies in the Philippine Islands. It was 
expected every day that he would make an assault upon Manila, 
the capital of the Philippines, and that the first naval engagement 
of consequence in the war would be with the Spanish fleet in those 
waters. No one doubted that the Asiatic squadron would be able to 
give a good account of itself, although the fleet which was to oppose 
it did not lack efficient guns and fighting strength. 

The capture of that valuable Spanish colony, in which rebellion 
against the government was in progress, would be not only a severe 
blow to the Spanish arms, but would also strengthen the position of the 



40 A WAR FOR LIBERTY AND HUMANITY. 

UniteU States in the Orieut by tlie i.ai>tui'e of large supplies of coal and 
naval equipment, as well as a splendid base of operations. 

The approach of May was admitted on every hand to signal definite 
operations on land and sea, in which the invading forces of the United 
States would enter the island of Cuba under the protection of the fleet 
for a systematic campaign against the Spanish forces under Captain 
General Blanco. 

The insurgents in Cuba were planning to co-operate with the United 
States forces, and every arrangement was cojupleted for final action. 
With men and money, munitions of war and ships, all in ample supply, 
it was evident that the crucial test was soon to come, and that the war 
was at last an actual fact. 



CHAPTER II. 

HOW COLUMBUS FOUND THE -TEAKL OF THE ANTILLES." . 

Ingratitude of Spain to the Great Discoverer Who Gave Her a Xew World — 
How Spain's Evil Colonial Policy Lost the Western Hemisphere to 
That Obsolete Nation — Early Settlement of Cuba — Character of the 
Natives at the Time of the Discovery — Founding of the First Cities — 
Havana Becomes the Island Capital — Docility of the Natives and 
Their Extermination by Spanish Oppressors. 

Cuba and Columbus are names inseparably connected. This largest 
and most fruitful island of the Spanish Main was discovered by the 
great navigator himself on tlie 2Sth day of October, 1492, only a short 
time after his first landing upon the soil of the western hemisphere on 
the island of San Salvador. There is a sentimental association to 
Americans in the thought that the discovery of our own continent was 
due to the pioneer expeditions sent from Spain. But any regTet in 
one's mind that animosities have risen between the two nations, may 
be mollified by the memory that Columbus was himself an Italian, that 
it had recpiired years of his efforts to induce sufficient interest on the 
part of Spanish monarchs to father his undertaking, and that his life 
in the service of Spain was marred by the basest ingratitude on the 
part of those whom he had served. 

Upon the handsome moutiment erected to the memory of Columbus 
in Seville by Ferdinand and Isabella, is the simple inscription, "A Cas- 
tile y Leon, nuevo mundo dio Colon" — '*to Castile and Leon, Columbus 
gave a new world." 

This was the tardy recognition granted to the discoverer by those to 
whom he had made the marvelous gift. Recognition had been denied 
him in his life, except after years of persistent urgiug, second only to 
those years he wasted in his effort to arouse Spanish interest and en- 
terprise. Once he was removed from his West Indian governorship and 
returned to Spain in chains. The titles and honors which had been 
promised him before, were denied after he had earned them. He 
was a victim of fotil ingratitude, and no American need permit senti- 
ment to blind him for the sake of Columbus. 

41 



42 HOW COLUMBUS FOUND THE "PEARL OF THE ANTILLES." 

The si)leiulid new world which Columbus gave to Spain, was the 
most marvekius addition of territoiy that has ever come into the pos- 
session of any nation upon earth. It included the whole of South Amer- 
ica, except Brazil, which was acquireil by rorln<ial, and the small col- 
onies known as British, Dutch and French Guiana, It included the 
whide of Central America and Me.xico. It included the whole of what 
is now the United States west of the Mississippi river. It included the 
whole of the coast of the Gulf of Mexico and the peninsula of Florida 
to the southern limit of Alabama and Georgia, and except for a few 
scattered islands, it included every foot of land in the Gulf of Mexico 
and the Caribbean sea, all the corjil rocks, as well as the greater islands 
of the West Indies and the Antilles. To-day not a foot of all that 
enormous possession remains to Sjiain undisputed, except the islands 
of Cuba and Puerto Bico. These hundreds of thousands of sipiare 
miles are inhabited by a free and i)eaceful iJCople, most of them as repub- 
lics, and the few exceptions under civilized and liberal cidonial policies. 
Spain's hold on Cuba has vanislied and I'nerto Bico is slipping away. 
Spain ciiuid not preserve the gifts ol' Columbus. 

Spains Colonial Policies. 

The logic of events and the progress of civilization have commanded 
that Spain should withdraw from her possessions in the western hemi- 
sfdiere. Never has th(>re been such a record of ferocity and barbarity in 
<((n<|Uest, as that which blackens the jKiges of Si)anish histoiy in con- 
nection with Spain's acqtiisition and subjection of her newly discovered 
territories. Whellier it was the peaceful lutlians of the Antilles, the 
higiily civilized Aztecs of .Mexico, or the Incas of Pern, the indicy pur- 
sued was always the same. First, treacherous friendship, then robbery 
and massacre, tiien slavery, and finally extermiiiaticui, was the unvary- 
ing programme. .\nd so, instea<I of winning favor and loyalty with 
their consecpient hapi»iness and prosi)erity from the native tnbes, Span- 
ish ccMupieroi-s implanted in the jiossessors of the country an over-mas- 
tering and iiu'railicable hatred, which grew with a.ssociation, until in 
colony after colotiy the bonds were burst by violence. 

When Great Britain lost Ini- Auiencan colonies by reason of her 
mi«government and o]iprcssioii of ilii'tn, it was a lesson which licr |>c(i- 
ple never fogot. From that day, the colonial policy of the Britisli gov- 
ernment was altered, and the spirit <tf liberality and generosity began 
to dominate. To-day, every colony of 'iir;il r.iitain tliat enjoys repre- 



HOW COLUMBUS FOUND THE "PEARL OF THE ANTILLES." 43 

sentative government — Canada, Australia, Cape Colony and many 
others, owes to the United States the liberty which Great Britain grants. 

But Spain could learn no such lessons. Her cinielty and misgov- 
ernment aroused colony after colony to I'ebellion ending in freedom, 
but her policies remained unaltered. One by one possessions of fabu- 
lous wealth dropped away until at last this old crone of nations has 
been left to shiver alone by her fireside, abandoned in her misery by 
all the children whose memory of her is nothing but that of vicious 
cruelty. The only pity to which Spain is entitled, is the pity that is 
due for her ignorance and her mistakes, not pity for the penalties that 
these have brought upon her. 

Spain was once the intellectual leader of the world, as well as the 
pioneer of discovei*y. Spanish universities were centers of learning 
long before northern Europe had its intellectual birth. Spanish mari- 
ners sailed every sea and Spanish adventurers explored ever}' land. If 
learning and advancement briug obligations, as they are admitted to do, 
it was Spain's obligation to be a leader in strife for liberty of mind and 
bodj-, but the two most notable things in her history are the Spanish 
inquisition against freedom of thought, and the Spanish ferocities which 
enslaved a new world for many a year. Now she has reaped the harvest 
of her own misdeeds. 

The Early Settlement of Cuba. 

Every one knows that Columbus was not looking for a western 
hemisphere, but for the Orient, and that when he found Cuba he believed 
he had reached the East Indies and the islands of gold and spice which 
had been reported from that mysterious land. Ilis first island discov- 
eries he believed to be the outlying portions of that eastern archipelago 
and when the natives told him of a greater land near by, which he 
reached a few days later, he believed that at last he had reached Cipan- 
go, as Japan then was called. 

The first name given to the island was Juana, in honor of Prince 
Juan, the son of Ferdinand and Isabella of Aragon and Castile. After 
Ferdinand's death, in his honor the name was changed to Femandina. 
Still later it received the name of Santiago, as a mark of reverence for 
the patron saint of Spain, and another change was made a few years 
afterward, when the inhabitants, as a proof of their piety, called it 
Ave Maria, in honor of the Iloly Virgin. In spite of all this effort at 
establishing a Spanish name, the original Indian name of Cuba, which 



41 HOW ("OLr.MlUS ForXI) THE "l-EAKL OF THE ANTILLES." 

it bore wbou the great uavigator first lamletl on its shores, has asserted 
itself triumi)hantl.y through all the cenluries aud is now ineradicable. 

According to the accounts given by Spanish writers who were con- 
temporary with the discovery, and the century immediately following, 
the aboriginal inhabitants of Cuba were a generous, gentle, hospitable 
people, by no means energetic, but heartily cordial and courteous to 
the strangers who reached their shores. The mildness of their climate 
did not stimulate them to much activity in cultivation of the soil, be- 
cause tropical fruits aud vegetables came with scarcely an effort on the 
part of the natives. Their implements and utensils were crude and 
their life simple. 

The system of government was by no means complicated. The island 
was divided into nine indeijendeut principalities, each under a Oaciijue, 
all living in harmouy, and warfare being almost unknown. Their relig- 
ion was a peaceful one, with(mt human sacrifices or cannibalism, but the 
priests had great power through their ])retense of influence with spirits 
good and evil. 

Of all the people discovertnl by the Spanish in their colonization 
of the western hemisphere, the Cubans were the most tractable to the 
influences of Christianity so far as their willingness to accept the doc- 
trines was concerned. Christianity, as practiced by the Spanish con- 
querors, was scarcely that of the highest type of the faith, and the 
inducements to acce[»t it were somewhat vicdent. Nevertheless it must 
be noted that it is from Spanish sources this testimony as to the docility 
of the Cuban natives comes. Under these circumstances it becomes a 
niagnifiitl crime that the Si)anish couijuerors absolutely exterminated 
the hundreds of thousands of native Cubans whom they found at the 
time of the discovery, and that within little more than a century, there 
was abs((lutely not a trace of native stock to be found anywhere in the 
island. 

When Columlius first rested his eyes on the island of Cuba it 
seemed to him an rnciianted land. He was charmed with its lofty 
mountains, its beautiful rivers, and its blossoming groves, and in his 
account of the voyage he said: "Everything is green as April in An- 
dalusia. The singing of the birds is such that it seems as if one woidd 
never desire to <lepart. There are flocks of parrots that obscure the 
sun. There are trees of a thousand sjH'cies, each having its particular 
fruit, and all of marvelous flavor." 

Columbus was first of Die (iiiiuion ilml Ik- Inid fnnnd an island, but 



HOW COLUMBUS FOUND THE 'TEARL OF THE ANTILLES." 45 

after following the shores for many miles he coucluded that it was a 
continent. Ue retained the latter belief until his death, for it was not 
until 1508 that the island was circumnavigated, Avhen it was discovered 
that it was of about the same area as England. In a subsequent expe- 
dition he reached the coast of South America, but he had no apprecia- 
tion of the magnitude of that continent, and to him Cuba was the 
grandest of his discoveries in the New World. 

Cuba was twice visited by Columbus after its discovery, in April, 
1494, and again in 1502, and these visits but confirmed his first opinion 
regarding the salubrity of the climate and the wealth of the soil. His 
sailors wrested from the natives large sums of gold and silver, and 
this led to the mistaken belief that mines of great richness w^ere with- 
in their grasp. 

Spain's Heartless Treatment of Columbus. 

Biography furnishes no parallel to the life of Columbus. Great 
men there have been who have met with injustice and disappoint- 
ments, but there is perhaps no other instance of a man w'hom disap- 
pointments and injustice did not dishearten and disgust; who had 
his greatness recognized in his lifetime, and yet was robbed of the re- 
wards that it entitled him to. 

It is probable that before his death Columbus confided his belief 
in the wealth to be found in Cuba to his son Diego Columbus, for in 
1511 the latter fitted out an expedition for the purpose of colonizing 
the island. This company consisted of about 300 men, under Diego 
Velasquez, who had accompanied the great explorer on his second 
voyage. The first settlement w^as made at Bai-acoa, in the extreme 
eastern section, and this village was regarded as the capital of the 
colony for several years. In the meantime extensive settlements had 
been made by the Spaniards in the island of Jamaica, and in 1514 the 
towns of Santiago and Ti-inidad were founded on the southern coast 
of Cuba, in order that the inhabitants of the two colonies might be 
brought into closer communication. As immigration increased, other 
towns of importance sprung up, and the island became the base for 
the various operations against Mexico. Baracoa grew largely in pop- 
ulation, and the towns of Puei-to Principe and Saucti Espiritus were 
established in the central section, and San Juan de los Remedios on 
the north coast. In July, 1515, the city of San Cristobal de la Habana 
was planted, deriving its name from the great ^liscoverer, but this 



40 HOW COLUMBUS FOUND THE "PEARL OF THE ANTILLES." 

uame was tiansft'nvd in loVJ to tlu- ]in-scnt capital, and the orijiinal 
town was callLnl Batabiiun. 

In 1518 the capital was tixed at Uaracoa, which hail by this time 
become a city of considerable importance, and the diocese of tlie col- 
ony. In ir)22 both the seat of government and the bishopric were rc^ 
moved to 8antia}j;o de Cuba. In loSS Havana was reduced to ashes by 
a French ]tnvatt'^r; and to prevent a similar disaster in future, the 
Castillo de la Fuerza, a forti-ess which still exists, was built by Fer- 
nando de Soto, govenior of Cuba, and afterwards famous for his ex- 
plorations in the southern and western portions of North America, as 
well as for the discovery of the Mississippi. 

Using a modern (>xi>ression, this great fortress, added to her almost 
perfect harbor, gave Havana a wonderful "boom," and tlie city expe- 
rienced a remarkable growth. The Sjjanish merciiantnien were ac- 
tively employed in carrying the wealth of Mexico to the Peninsula, and 
Havana was a convenient port for them to secure supplies of provis- 
ions and water. In 154!> (Jonzales Perez de Augulo was appointed 
governor of the island, and he was so impressed with the beauties of 
the city, that he chose it as his residence. Several of his successors fol- 
lowed his exami)le, and in IT.Sit it was legally made the ca])ila] of Cuha. 

Early Government of Cuba. 

The early records of the islaml were ke])t in so impei-fect a inamn r 
I hat il is not possible to give an accurate account of the early govern- 
ors and their lieutenants. It is certain, however, that the seat of gov- 
(■rnmciit was at Santiago de Cuba, and that Havana and other towns 
of minor importance were ruled by liculciiants. In 1.">3S, Hernando 
de Soto, adelanlado of I'lorida, and also governor of Cuba, landed at 
Santiago, and remained a f<'W days before proceeding to the main- 
land. On his dejiarlure he left liic government of the island in charge 
of a laily, Htma Isabel <le H(»ba<lilla, and gave her for a colleague Don 
Juan de IJojas, wlm had a1 one time been lieutenant govenior of Ha- 
vana. It is from (his <Iate lliat the gradual f ransference of the seat <(f 
power from Santiago to Havana may be said in lia\e aiiseii. 

I)(»n Antonio de Chavez a.ssume<l the government in l.")!?, and he 
it was wh<» gave Havana its first regular supjdy of water, bringing it 
a distance of about six miles from i\w river <'liorrera. 

'I'lic e;iil\ settlers (levo(e<l themselves piiiiripiilly (u the raising of 
cattle, jtaying very little alteiitinn to agricnll iiial puisuils, or in fact 



HOW COLUMBUS FOUND THE "PEAKL OF THE ANTILLES.'^ 47 

to any meaus of livelihood that called for manual labor. Much time 
and money was wasted in explorations for gold and silver, but these 
were invariably unsuccessful, for while the precious metals have oc- 
casionally been found in the island, the quantity has never been suffi- 
cient to repay the labor of the search. 

A Letter Written by Columbus. 

Nothing more interesting for the conclusion of this chapter can be 
offered than Columbus' own account of his first view of the island of 
Cuba. It is as follows 

"When I reached Juana, I followed its coast to the westward, and 
found it so large that I thought it must be mainland, the province of 
Cathay; and as I found neither towns nor villages on the sea coast, but 
only some hamlets, with the inhabitants of which I could not hold con- 
versation, because they all immediately fled, I kept on the same route, 
thinking that I could not fail to light upon some large cities or towns. 
At length, after the proceeding of many leagues, and finding that noth- 
ing new presented itself, and that the coast was leading me northwards 
(which I wished to avoid, because the winter had already set in, and 
it was my intention to move southwards; and because moreover the 
winds were contraiy), I resolved not to wait for a change in the 
weather, but to return to a certain harbor which I had remarked, and 
from which I sent two men ashore to ascertain whether there was any 
king or large cities in that part. They journeyed for three days, and 
found countless small hamlets, with numberless inhabitants, but with 
nothing like order; they therefore returned. In the meantime I had 
learned from some other Indians, whom I had seized, that this land 
was certainly an island; accordingly, I followed the coa^t eastward 
for a distance of 107 leagues, where it ended in a cape. From this cape 
I saw another island to the eastward, at a distance of eighteen leagues 
from the former, to which I gave the name of La Espanola. Thither I 
went and followed its northern coast, (just the same as I had done with 
the coast of Juana), 118 full miles due east. This island, like all 
others, is extraordinarily large, and this one extremely so. In it ai*e 
many seaports, Avith which none that I know in Christendom can bear 
comparison, so good and capacious that it is a wonder to see. The 
lands are high, and there are many lofty mountains, with which the 
islands of Teuerift'e cannot be compared. They are all most beautiful, 
of a thousand different shapes, accessible, and covered with trees of 




GENERAL WEYLER— FORMERLY GOVERNOR GENERAL OF CUBA 



CHAPTEK III. 

SPAIN'S BLACK HISTORICAL EECORD. 

Present Men of Prominence Are Types of Those Who Were Infamous Years 
Ago — Eoman Rule in Spain — Weakness of Spanish Power of Resist- 
ance — Discoveries in America — Horrors of the Inquisition — Spanish 
Rule in HoHand — Expulsion of the Moors — Loss of American Colo- 
nies — Later History of Spain. 

The signal fact that will present itself to the student of Spanish 
history is that from the earliest times the country has been in a con- 
tinual state of conflict, internal, with its colonies, and wnth other 
nations; and seldom has it been a" war of defense. In almost every 
instance Spain has been the aggressor. The Spaniard has ever been 
perfidious, avaricious, ferocious. In his veins still flows the blood of 
Ferdinand, of Torquemada, and of Philip II. Weyler is a prototype of 
Alva, and in Blanco we find another Antonio de Mendoza. Spain is the 
China of modern Europe. Her spirit is still the spirit of the inquisi- 
tion. Her policy is not to conciliate, but to coerce; not to treat justly, 
but to rob and enslave; and her dependence is the ignorance and su- 
perstition of her people. 

All reforms wrung from rulers must first be baptized in blood, and 
it is possible that the end of the present century may see a new nation, 
built on the ruius of the old, which will be a credit to civilization, in- 
stead of a disgrace. 

Roman Rule in Spain. 

Prior to the first war between Kome and Carthage, which ended 
241 B. C, there is little or no authentic information regarding the his- 
tory of the country now known to the world as Spain. To the ancients 
it was a laud of mystery and enchantment, the home of the setting 
sun; and Iberia, as they called it, was but a name for an indefinite 
extent of territory in the far west, peopled by barbarous Celts and 
Iberians, with a few Phoenician settlements, for the purposes of trade, 

on its southern coasts. 

49 



50 sr.viN's i;la<'k historical kecoud. 

At tilt' rlose of the lirst I'uiiic war, Ilamikar Barca, at the hoa«l of 
a Cai-thayiniaii host, trosseil the strait of (iibraltar ami comiiii'iicccl 
the eouqiiest which his sou llaimibal eonipleted, and which resulted iu 
tlie imdisputed suprematy of (\irtha};e throuj^hout almost all of Spain. 
This brings us to 218 B. C. aud m;u-ks the beginning of tlie second 
Punic war, when the Koman legions first entereil Spain. After a 
struggle which lasted for thirteen jears the Carthaginians were com- 
pletely routed, and the country was conquere«l by the arms of Eome. 
It was many yeai-s, however, before the inhabitants were really sub- 
dued, but eventually they became more comi)letely Komauized thau 
any province beyond the limits of Italy. When brought under the 
iron rule of the Empire they were forced to desist from the intestinal 
wars in which it had been their habit to indulge, aud adopting the lan- 
guage, laws and manners of their conquerors, thej' devoted them- 
selves to industrial i>ursuits, and increaseil remarkably both iu wealth 
and numbers. Their fertile fields formed for a considerable time the 
granary of Kome, and from the metal-veined mountains an immense 
amount of gold and silver llowed into Homan coffers. Ilowever, these 
were not viduntary offerings of the natives. They were compelled to 
laiior in the mines for tiie benefit of strangers, and thus Spain, iu the 
early age.s, was the type of Spanish America iu the fifteenth aud suc- 
ceeding centuries, with the diflerence that in the first case the Sjjan- 
iards were the slaves, and in the second the}' were the slave-holders. 

For more than :{()() years Spain remaine<l under Roman rule, until 
in 10!( A. 1)., hordes of barbarians crossed the Pyrenees and swept over 
the Peninsula. Suevi, Alani and Vandals ravaged with equal fury 
the cities and the ojK'n country, and brought the inhabitants to the 
lowest depths of misery. They were finally subjugated by a Visigothic 
host, and in 41."», Walia, a war-like and ambitious chief, established the 
West-fJothic kingdom in Spain, on the ruins of the old Roman prov- 
ince. Walia concluded a treaty witli the Emperor Ilonorius, and, put- 
ting himself at the hea<l of the biave (Jotlis, in a three-years' war he 
destroyed or drove the barbarians from tlie land. Spain, thus recon- 
quered, was nominally subject to ]{ome, I)ut sof)n became really inde- 
jieiulent, and began to lie the seat of a riinstian civilization. This 
West-Crothic kingdom lasted for about three centuries, from -US to 
711, when it fell liefore the Moorish invasion. 



SPAIN'S BLACK HISTORICAL RECOKD. 61 

Weakness of Spanish Powers of Resistance. 

Few things iu hisstoiy are more remarkable than the ease with 
which Spain, a. coimtij naturally fitted for defense, was subdued by a 
mere handful of invaders. The misgovernment of the Visigoths, the 
internal factions and jealousies, and the discontent of numerous 
classes, notably the Jews, co-operated to facilitate the conquest and 
to weaken the power of resistance. These conquerors were of the Mo- 
hammedan faith, but while they were united by religion, they were of 
different races. Besides the Moors there were the Arabs, the Egyp- 
tians and the Syrians, and when the task of conquest was achieved, 
and the need for unity removed, quarrels arose between them. So diffi- 
cult was it to prevent these quarrels, that it was found necessary to 
subdivide the conquered territory, and to allot separate settlements to 
the different tribes. 

During the period of Moorish domination a number of small inde- 
pendent kingdoms were formed in opposition to Moslem rule. These 
comprised Castile, Leon, Navarre and Aragou, and sometimes sepa- 
rately, sometimes in combination, they were in constant war with the 
common enemy. The age of the great crusades came, and all Chris- 
tendom was absorbed in the struggle against the infidel, both in the 
East and West. Spain, like Palestine, had its crusading orders, which 
vied with the Templars and the Hospitallers both in wealth and mili- 
tary distinction. The decisive battle was fought in July, 1212, when 
the combined forces of Castile, Leon, Navarre, Aragon and Portugal 
met the Mohammedan army, and gained the most celebrated victory 
ever obtained by the Christians over their Moslem foes, the latter 
losing, according to the account transmitted to the pope, 100,000 killed 
and 50,000 prisoners. The king of Grenada was speedily forced to be- 
come a vassal of Castile, and from this period all danger from Moor- 
ish rule was over. 

Following this time until the different kingdoms became as one, 
there is nothing in their history desening a detailed account. The 
history of Spain as a united state dates from the union of Castile and 
Aragon by the marriage of Isabella and Ferdinand, the respective rul- 
ers of those kingdoms, in 1160. Grenada, the last remaining posses- 
sion of the Moors, fell before the Spanish forces iu 1192, and Navarre 
was acquired in 1512. 



52 SPAIN.S 15LACK HISTORICAL lUX'ORU. 

Discoveries in America. 

The year 1492, during the reigu of Ferdiuand and Isabella, wit- 
uesstil the discovery of America, Spain had become consolidated into 
one empire from tlie Pyrenees to the strait of Gibraltar, and civil wars 
"were at an end. Maritime exploration was the task of the age, and 
under the patronage of Isabella, Cohunbus planted the flag of Spain 
in the West Indies. This grand achievement letl to the ojK'ning of a 
splendid ccmtinent, teeming with riches, for Spanish adventure and 
despoliation. In llitS, Columbus landed on the Cfuitineut of South 
America, and in a few years tlie entire western coast Wivs explored by 
subsequent adventurers. In 1512, Ponce de Leon discovered Florida, 
and the following year, Balboa crossed the Isthmus of Darieu, and 
gazed for the first time upon the Pacific. 

The history of Spain, in connecticm with its discovery and settle- 
ment of the New World, is one long record of revolting crime. New 
England was settled by a people who came to tura the wilderness 
inl(( a city, but tlie Spanish invaders went to the southern shores to 
turn the cities of tlie natives int<) a wilderness. In Mexico and Peru 
tliey found a civilization the equal and in many respects the superior 
of their own. Witli cross and sword in liand, in the name of religion, 
l)Ul with the lust for gold in their hearts, their coming was invaria- 
bly a signal fur evei-y kind of attack that malignity could devise or 
avarice invent. Wherever tliev went, desohition followed them. They 
looted the t«)wns, i>ilhi<:e(l the cities, murdered the people; they 
burne<l alike the hovels ul' the |»oor, and the jialaces of the rich. 

The value of ilie treasure that Spain secured from Mexico and 
Peru never can be known accurately; but it is certain that within 
sixty yejiis fnnii the time of the landing of Columbus she had ad- 
vanced to the position of the richest iiiid most powerful nation in 
Europe. Victorious in Africa and Italy, Philij) II., who was then the 
reigning monarch, carried war into I'raiice, and ruled in flerniany, as 
well as in tlmse pntviiires now known as P.elgiiim and Holland. The 
money necessary to carry on tlies<' vast wars of compiest was undoubt- 
edly acfpiired in the New W(»rld. When CoHez apjiroachwl the jialace 
of .Montezuniii, the King's messengers met him, bearing presents from 
their lord. These gifts included 2()() pounds of gold for the comman- 
der, and two |»ounds of gold for cjuh of his armj'. Prescott, in his 
"Conquest of Peru," says that wlir-n the S]>nnish soldiers captured the 



SPAIN'S BLACK niSTORlCAL RECORD. 53 

capital of that coimtrj they speut days iu melting dowu the golden 
vessels which they found iu temples and palaces. Ou one voyage a 
single ship carried to Spain |15,500,000 in gold, besides va.st treasures 
of silver and jewels. 

The Horrors of the Inquisition. 

The Inquisition was a tribunal in the Konum Catholie churcli for 
the discovery, repression and punishment of heresy and unbelief. It 
originated in Rome when Chnstianity was established as the religion 
of the Empire, but its history in Spain and her dependencies has ab- 
sorbed almost entirely the real interest in the painful subject. 

As an ordinai-y tribunal, similar to those of other countries, it had 
existed tltiere from an early period. Its functions, however, in those 
times were little more than nominal; but early in the reign of Ferdi- 
nand and Isabella, on account of the alleged discoveiy of a plot among 
the Jews to overthrow the government, an application was made to 
the Pope to permit its re-orgauization. But in reviving the tribunal, 
the Cix)wn assumed to itself the right of appointing the inquisitors, 
and of controlling their entire action. For this reason Catholic writ- 
ers regard the Spanish inquisition as a state tribunal, and refer to the 
bull of the Pope, Sixtus IV., protesting against it. Notwithstanding 
this protest, however, the Spanish Crown maintained its assumption. 
Inquisitors were appointed, and in 1483 the tribunal commenced its 
terrible career, under Thomas de Torquemada. 

The inquisition arrested on suspicion, tortured for confession, and 
then punished with fire. One witness brought the victim to the rack, 
two to the flames. The prisoner was not confronted with his accuser, 
nor were their names ever mpde known to him. The court was held 
in a gloomy dungeon at midnight, a dim light gleamed from smoking 
torches, and tlie grand inquisitor, enveloped in a black robe, glared at 
his victim through holes cut in the hood. Before the examination, the 
accused, whether man, maid or mati'on, was stripped and stretched 
upon the rack, where tendons could be strained without cracking, 
bones crushcnl without breaking, and the body tortured without 
dying. 

When the prisoner w;i,s found guiltj-, his tongue was cut out, so 
that he eould neither speak nor swallow. Ou the morning of the exe- 
cution a breakfast of rare delicacies was placed before the sufferer, 
and with ironical invitation he was urged to enjoy his last repast. 



54 SPAIN'S I'.LACK HISTORICAL KKCOHD. 

Tbt'ii till' jtrisoucr was It-d lo thi- luin'ral pyre, whore an addri'ss was 
jjiveii, laudiiijj the iiKiuisitiun, eimdeiiiiiiuj; heresy, and eoniniandinj: 
obeilienee to the Pope and the Emperor. Tlien, while hymns were 
8ung, bhizin};; fayots were i)ik'd about tlie victim, until his body was 
reduied to a heap of ashes. 

Some conception of the api)alliuj^ cruelty of the iuqiiisiliou luuh-r 
Torquemada may be formed from the statement that dnriug the six- 
teen years of his tennre of oltice nearly 10,000 porsinis were romlciiined 
to the tlaiues, and the projjcrty of 1)7,000 others was (•(iiilis( atcd. 

Spanish Rule in Holland. 

ilurrilile as the alnxitics of tlie iiKniisition were in llic iiinliier 
<ounfry, it is doubtful if they ever reached the acme of savajie cruelty 
that they attained duriny; the period when Spain was seeking to 
strengthen the fetters with which she nomi-ually lichl Holland in her 
grasp. The Spanish governiueut, from the time whiii ii lirst acijuired 
a place among nations, has n<'Ver been satistied with a reasonable 
tribute from its de|teudeiicies. Its plan ever hivs been to exact all, 
and have iiuthing to snpjdy more than a miserable existence. So it 
was in the middle of the sixttn-nth century, when Philip II., greedy of 
tlie treasures of Holland, determined to spoW them of their wealth, 
and plamu'd to establish the in(]uisiti(Ui among them by the .sword. 

Tiie duke (if .Mva, already famous for his hai*shne.ss and bigotry, 
was named commaiuler of (he f<H'ces, with almost unlimited powers. 
He entered the Netherlands with about 20,000 tried troops, ready for 
cruelties, and all hopes of peace or mercy tied befcn-e them. There was 
a great and desperate exo<lus of (he inhabitants; thousands toidc 
refuge in lOngland, Denmark and (Jermany, and desjiair and helpless- 
ness alone remaine*! to greet the cold Spaniai-d and his (i"aiu of ortliit- 
dox executioners. The Couiiiil <>f Troubles — the "Uloo<l-tribunar' — 
was immediately establishetl, and the land was lille<l with blood. In 
a sliort time he totally annihilated ev(M-y privilege of the pe<jple, and 
with unrelenting cnndfy ]>nt mnltitmles of them to dealli. 

The iiKwe the jK'iisauts rebelled, the cruelcr were the methods of 
Alva. .Men were tortured, beheaded, roasted before slow tires, 
j>inrlic(l to death with hot tongs, broken on the wheel, flayed alive. 
On one occasion the skins of leaders were stripjx'd from their living 
Imdies, and stretclie<l u|»oii drums for beating the funeral march of 
their biiijiicn lo I lie •rallows. I>uriii'^ I lie coiii-se of six vears .Viva 



SPAIN'S BLACK HISTORICAL RECORD. 55 

brought charges of heresy and treason against 30,000 inhabitants, and 
made the infamous boast that, in addition to the multitudes Icilled in 
battle and massacred after victory, he had consigned 18,000 persons 
to the executioner. 

This unholy war with the Netherlands lasteil with occasional ces- 
sations of hostilities for eighty years, and during its progress Spain 
buried 330,000 of her sous and allies in Holland, spent untold millions 
in the attempted destruction of freedom, and sunk fi-om the first power 
in Europe, an empire whose proud boast it had been that upon her pos- 
sessions the sun never set, to the level of a fourth-rate country', cruel 
in government, superstitious in religion, and ever an enemy to 
progress. 

Expulsion of the Moors. 

In addition to the terrible drain upon the country fi'om losses in 
war, the expulsion of the Jews and the Moors was productive of the 
direst results. In 1609 all the Moriscoes were ordered to depart from 
the Peninsula within three days. The penalty of death was declared 
against all who failed to obey, and against any Christians who should 
shelter the recalcitrant. The edict was obeyed, but it was a blow from 
which Spain never recovered. The Moriscoes were the back-bone of 
the industiial population, not only in trade and manufactures, but 
also in agriculture. The haughty and indolent Spaniards had will- 
ingly left what they considered degrading employment to their in- 
feriors. The Moors had introduced into Spain the cultivation of sugar, 
cotton, rice and silk. In manufactures and commerce they had shown 
superiority to the Christian inhabitants, and many of their products 
were eagerly sought for by other countries. All these advantages 
were sacrificed to an insane desire for religious unity. 

The reigns of Philip III. and Philip IV. witnessed a fearful accel- 
eration in the decline of Spain by the contests with the Dutch and 
with the German Protestants in the Thirty Years' War, the wars with 
France, and the rebellion of Portugal in KUO, which had been united 
to Spain by Philip II. The reign of Charles II. was still more unfor- 
tunate, and his death was the occasion of the war of the Spanish suc- 
cession. 

Under Charles III. (1759-1788), a wise and enlightened prince, the 
second great revival of the country commenced, and ti'ade and 
commerce began to show signs of returning activity. Previous to his 



5G Sl'AlNS IJLACK IIISTCHCICAL KlJCOKl). 

jUTi'ssiuu t(j the tliroue, Spaiu appeaivd tu be a coiii-se, over wbiih the 
powers of Europe could couteud at will. Suddenly lueu were 
astounded to see that country rise with renewed vigor to pljiy once 
more an iuii>ortaiit pait on the international staye. Commerce and 
ajiriculture were developed, native manufactures were encouraj;ed in 
every way possible, and an atti'uipt was made to remove all jirejudices 
aj^ainst trade, amonj; the nobles. Merititrious as the.se reforms were, 
it would give a false impression to rejneseut them as wholly success- 
ful. The i-egeneratiou of Spain was by uo meajis accomplished, and 
many of the abuses which had been growing for centuries, survived 
the attempt to effect their annihilation. One of the chief causes of this 
failure was the corruption and ignorance of the lower officials; and a 
large portion of the population remained, to a great extent, sunk in 
sloth and superstition, in sjiite of all that WiVs done in their behalf. 

During the inglorious reign of diaries IV. (1788-1SU8), who left the 
management of alTairs in the hands of tlie incai)able Godoy, (at once 
the queen's lover and the king's prime minister), a war broke out witli 
I?ritain, which was |»r<idn<tive of nothing but disa.ster to the Span- 
iards. Charles tinaily abdicatcnl in favor of his son, the Prince of Astu- 
ria.s, who ascended the throne as Ferdinand VII. Forced by Napoleon 
to resign all claims to the Sjianish crown, Ferdinand became the pris- 
oner of the French in the year of liis accession, and in the same yeaj-, 
Josejdi, the brother of the French emi>eror, was declared King of 
Spain, and set out for Mailrid to assume the kingdom tiius assigneil 
liim. Hut Spanish loyalty was too jirofttund to be daunted even by the 
awe-insjiii-iiig jMiwer of the great Xaixileon. F(»r the first time he 
found liiniself confronted, not by terrilicf! jmd seilish rulers, I)Ut by an 
infuriate! pe(»jiie. The rising on Spain coiiinienced tlie jfopular move- 
ment which ulliniatcly ju'oved fatal to liis jHiwer. 

In .Inly, ISOS, Fngland, on solicitation, made jieace with Spain, 
recognized Ferdinand \'l!. as king, and sent an army to aid the Spau- 
is!i insurrection. Jo.seph invaded the country on July 9, defeated the 
Spaniards at Kio Seco, aii«l entere<l Madrid on the 20th. But the de- 
feat of Ilui)ont at Haylen by the veteran Spanish general Castanos 
somewhat altered the position of affairs, ami Joseph, after a residence 
of ten ilays in his capital, wa.s comi»elled to evacuate it. 

Meanwhile Sir Arthur Wellesley, afler^val•ds Didce of Wellington, 
at the head of the Hritish auxiliary force, had landed at Mondego bay, 
and began the IVuinsular war by defeating the French at Koliza and 



SPAIN'S BLACK HISTORICAL RECORD. 51 

Vimiero. In November, 1808, Napoleou, who had been preceded by 
Ney with 100,000 men, entered Spain and assumed the command. For 
a time his armies were completely successful. In less than a week the 
Spanish foi'ces were broken through and scattered, and Joseph was 
returned to Madrid. The victory was a short-lived one, however, for, 
in April, 1809, General Wellesley arrived in Portugal and at once com- 
menced operations. By dint of masterly generalship and bold enter- 
prise he finally succeeded in driving tlie French from the country. 
Napoleon, loth to lose his hold in the Peninsula, sent Soult, his most 
trusted general, to stop the ingress of the British into France, but the 
battles of the Pyrenees, (24th July— 1st August, 1813), and of the 
Nivelle, Orthez, and Toulouse, in the beginning of 1811, brought to a 
victorious conclusion this long and obstinate contest. 

Loss of American Colonies. 

After the convulsions it h<id endured, Spain required a period of 
firm but conciliatory government, but the ill fate of the country gave 
the throne at this crisis one of her worst rulers. Ferdinand VII. had 
no conception of the duties of a sovereign; his public conduct was 
regulated by pride and superstition, and his private life was stained 
by the grossest dissipations. 

For six years Spain groaned under a "Reign of terror," and isolated 
revolts only served as the occasion for fresh cruelties. The finances 
were squandered in futile expeditions to recover the South American 
colonies, which had taken advantage of Napoleon's conquest of Spain 
to establish their independence. In his straits for money, Ferdinand 
ventured to outrage national sentiment by selling Florida to the 
United States in 1819. Louisiana had been ceded to France in 1803, 
and when Mexico gained her independence in 1822, the last of the ter- 
ritory under Spanish rule in North America was lost to her. 

The reign of Ferdinand's daughter, Isabella II., was disturbed by 
the Carlist rebellion in 1831-1839, in which England aided the Queen 
with an army commanded by Sir De Lacy Evans. Spain, under Isa- 
bella II., presents a dismal picture of faction and intrigue. Policies of 
state had forced her into a distasteful marriage with her cousin, Fran- 
cis of Assisi, and she sought compensation in sensual indulgences, en- 
deavoring to cover the dissoluteness of her private life by a supersti- 
tious devotion to religion. She had to contend with continual revolts. 



58 ' S^A1^■•!S BLACK UltiTuHlCAL RECORD. 

and was liuallj compellod, in 18(58, to abdicate the tbroue aud tly to 
France for her life. 

A iH'ovisional yoverunieut was formed witli Sen-ano as I'resident, 
and a new constitution was formed, by whiih an hereditary kiny was 
to rule, in conjunction with a senate and a inipular chamber. The 
throne was olTeretl to Amadeus of Aosta, the second son of Victor 
Emmanuel, in 1870, and he made an honest effort to disciiarge the ditli- 
cull duties of the ollice. lint he found the task too hard, and too dis- 
tasteful, and resij^ned in 1873. A provisional republic was then 
formed, of which Castelar was the yiiidin}; spirit. But the Spaniards, 
traimnl to regard monarchy with superstitious reverence, had no sym- 
pathy with republican institutions. Don Carlos seized the opportunity 
to revive the claim of inalienable male succession, and laisinl the 
standard of revolt. Castelar finally threw up the ottice in dis};ust, and 
the administration wius undertaken by a committee of otticers. 
Anarchy was su])pressed with a stronii' hand, but it was obvious that 
order could only be i-estored by reviving;' tiic monarchy. Foreii^n princes 
were no longer (li(>Uf;ht of, an<l Alfonso XII., the young son of the 
exiled Isabella, was restored to the throne in 1874. His first task was 
to terminate the Carlist war, which still continued in the North, and 
this was successfully accomplished in 1870. lie died in 1885, and the 
regency was entrusted to his widow, Christina of Austria, On May 
17th, 1880, a jMislliunious son was born, who is now the titular King 
of Spain. 



CHAPTER IV. 

BUCCANEERING AND THE WARFARE IN THE SPANISH MAIN. 

Spain's Stoli'ii Treasures from Mexico and Peru Tempt Her Euroi)ean Rivals 
— The Spanish Main tlie Scene of Piratical Plundering for Manj- Years 
— Havana and Other Cities Threatened — Great Britain Takes Santo 
Domingo — American Troops from the British Colonies Capture Havana 
— Victory on Land and Sea Is Saddened by Many Deaths of Brave 
Americans from Fever — Lessons of the First Capture of Havana. 

After the acquisition of rich and populous countries in the western 
hemisphere had begim, Spain discovered that her new-found wealth 
was not to be hers without a struggle. From the harbors of Mexico and 
Peru, Spanish galleons sailed with their loads of treasure, stolen from 
the Moutezumas and the Incas. Year after year, rich argosies, laden 
with gold and silver to replenish the extravagant treasury of the Span- 
ish crown, crossed the seas. The Atlantic ocean, the Gulf of Mexico and 
the Caribbean sea were furrowed with the keels of Spanish fleets, at a 
time when the European nations scarcely maintained the pretense of 
friendship with one another. 

It was hardly to be expected that these rich prizes should go un- 
molested. England and France knew quite well that they were plun- 
dered from the native treasuries of the new world, and no reason ap- 
peared why Spain in turn should not be robbed of her plunder. So 
the Spanish Main, the Caiibbean sea, the Gulf of Mexico, and the 
adjacent waters, became the haunt of buccaneers and pirates, some 
under flags of European nations, and others under the black flag. Des- 
perate fights were the lot of almost every Spanish galleon that sailed 
those seas, and fabulous prizes sometimes were taken under the skull 
and crossbones. Spanish men of war sailed back and forth to convoy 
the merchant fleets, but their protection was not always sufficient. 
Pirates could obtain frigates with guns as good as those of Spain, and 
with the temptation of wealth before them they braved conflict when- 
ever it was necessary. 

The harbors of Key West, the Dry Tortugas and others along the 
Florida keys, as well as many of those in the Bahamas, the West Indies 

59 



GO BUCCANEERIXCi IX TUE Sl'ANLSn MAIN. 

and the Autilles, were the haunts of buccaneers and privateers who 
careeneil their ships on shore for repjui's, or held hij^h rerel on the 
beaches after their tnumi>h over some Spauisli ti-easure fleet. Those 
were bloody days, full of dramatic excitement. From them some of 
the most notable winters of fiction have drawn their tales, which enter- 
tain readers of tt)*da\ . 

What was done wiili all tlit- liold thus uanicrcd in sea li<^hts before 
it reached the ports of Spain, is hard to know. Sometimes mystenous 
stranjjei-s ai)peared in the seaport towns of France and Eniriand and 
even the American colonies in tlieir younger days, to spend money 
lavishly for a short time and then disajipear as mysteriously as they 
came. These men were reputcnl to be ])irate chiefs se<^vin^ relaxation 
from their customary life. Others of the buccantM?rs hoarded their 
wealth in hiding places known only to themscdves, the secret of wliii li 
must have died with them, while the j;old remains undiscovered. All 
throu}:;h tJie Florida keys aJid the West India islands, as well as along 
the coasts of Georgia and the Carolina.s, traditions still exist in relation 
to tlie.se trea.sure hoards. Sanguine people are still digging in the 
.sands of these bea< hes, in tlie lioite that some day they will unearth a 
sea chest full of Sjianish doubloons, or the golden ornaments strij(i)ed 
frnm Aztec idols. Some finds indeinl have been made, but tliose who 
make them are not apt to reveal the secret which might guide another 
to a surces.-sfiil searcii. 

Piratical Raids Trouble Havana. 

Having discovered the weallii tliat could be obtained by attacks 
upon tiie Spanisii (le<'ts, the i>irat<'s began to think of the cities whicli 
were themselves the source of mucli of tliis wealth. Tlie result of this 
was tliat they began to make di-scents upon the coasts, not only of Cuba, 
Imt of the neighbonng islands of Jamaica and Santo Domingo. The ex- 
jK'iise occasional by lheattemi)ts to supjire-ss these incursions became so 
great tdwai-d the end of the sixttvnth ceutuiy, that ii liirame necessary 
to iuii>ose a special tax to cov«'r it. 

I'ortresses at all flie fortilieil harboi-s were iiiiiirove<i, and I In- p<iwer 
of 1 lie military olliciais increased as their inijH)rtauce increased, and that 
of tlie civil governors diminishe<l. It wa.s as a dirtnt result of these 
conditions tliat the oftice of Captain (ieiieral was created, in which the 
governor sliared military and civil authority alike. Havana fortifica- 
tions were liasteuecl to (•onipi<'liori and the pic])aratious for defense 



BUCCANEERING IN THE Sl'ANIHII MAIN. 61 

began, wliioh never have been raateriall}' improved to this da}\ The 
three fortresses of El Morro, La Punta and La Cabana were built before 
the end of the sixteenth eentnrj and still were standing as the most 
effective defenses of Havana when our war with Spain began. 

It was during the same period, that African negroes were first in- 
troduced into Cuba. Slavery' had proved so severe upon the aborigines, 
that their numbers had almost reached the vanishing point, and there 
was a lack of sufiicient labor for the cultivation of tobacco and sugar 
cane, the chief pi'oducts of Spanish agriculture in the island. It was to 
promote the production of these new luxuries tbat the African slave 
trade was begun. A royal license from the King of Spain was obtained 
to guarantee the privilege of importing negroes. 

Then began that foul commerce which was another black stain on 
the history of Spanish colonization of the western hemisphere. Spanish 
ships descended upon the African coasts and kidnapped thousands of 
negroes for seiwice in the Cuban cane and tobacco fields. The horrors 
of the trade cannot be magnified and are too distressing fo-r repetition. 
It is sufficient to say that in Havana it is understood that the harbor 
was free from sharks which now swarm there, until they followed the 
slave ships from the African coasts in multitudes, for the feast of slaves 
who were thrown overboard on the long voyage. Scores and hundreds 
of Africans died during the journey, from the hardships they were 
compelled to undergo, and Havana harbor itself was the last grave of 
many of these hapless ones. 



Great Britain Threatens Spanish Possessions. 

It was just after the middle of the seventeenth century and during 
the rule of Oliver Cromwell in England, that the Spanish guvernors of 
Cuba began to fear an attack by a British fleet. A squadron sailed in 
1655 with the design of capturing Jamaica, a purpose which was easily 
accomplished. That island was taken by Great Britain, the Spanish 
forces defending it were ntterlj' defeated, the governor was killed, and 
many of the inhabitants removed, in consequence, to Cuba. From 
Jamaica the same fleet sailed for Havana, but the attack was repulsed 
and the ships abandoned the attempt. Except for the encroachments of 
the French upon the island of Santo Domingo, and the continual pirati- 
cal incursions of French and English buccaneers, the Spanish in the 
West Indies were not threatened with any more hostilities except by 



G3 BUCCAXEIOHINC I \ TIIK Sl'ANlSll MAIN. 

their own intornal (lisscusiuiis until 17ti2. At that tinu» Spain and Eng- 
htnd were at war, Spain in alliance with the French, and it was decided 
by the British governniout that Cuba was a vulnerable possession and 
a valuable one that ought to be taken. 

The capture of Havana b}- forces under the English flag fills little 
space in tlie history of England and Si)ain, because of the nfagnitude 
of (he interests involved elsewhere. It is almost forgotten in America, 
in spite of the bearing of all its contemporary incidents upon the rap- 
idly ai)proaching revolution, and yet it was an achievement of the col- 
onial tr()(ii)s and consequently the first assault upon Cuba by Americans. 

It was an event of the first importance in its own day and contained 
le.ssons of the first moment for the guidance of those who had to plan 
the conduct of the war against Sjiaiu in ISilS. It proved that American 
troops under eflicient officers could take the field willi smcess against 
double their number of Spaniards fully provisioned and strongly in- 
trenched. It proved that Havana could be successfully assaulted by a 
combined military and naval force, regardless of her picturesque but 
obsolete fortifications. Si)ain's lack of administrative ability in the 
later war as well as in the first, destroying any advantage to be derived 
from balls and cannon. On (he other side it i»rove<l that Americans had 
to look fonvard to a considerable loss of life as a result of climatic 
conditions, if (hey attempteil (o conduct hos(ile operations in Cuba dur- 
ing the summer sea-^^on. 

Th<' u((er inca]»acity for s(raiglitf(H \vin-d,])ei'(inaciousligh(iiig,whicli 
boili Xajioleon an<l (he Duke of Wellington found in the Spanish army 
during (he Peninsular war, was as conspicuous lif(y years before, when 
the Americans took Havana, and may nglitly be argued as penietually 
inherent in the national character; fctr though the annals of Spain are 
filled with instances of individual courage of the first rank, demoraliza- 
tion sets in as soon a.s (hey come together in numbers in the face of a 
civilized foe. Their chief maneuver in the course of a century and a 
half, has been just plain running away. The victorious Wellington, 
seeing his Siianish allies running for dear life just after he had wliii>p(Hl 
the fipposing French line in the last battle of the peninsular cam]/aign, 
was moved to remark that he had seen many curious things in his life, 
but never fiefore 20,000 men engaged in a foot race. 

Yet the tight made by the Spaniards in Havana during the attack 
of the Rritish and colonial f(>rces in 17(12 is the one notable instance of 
a jirolonged struggle between men who sj)eak English and men who 
speak Spanish. Ilistory may be searched in vain, either in the old or 



BUCCANEERING IN THE SPANISH MAIN. 63 

new world, for a defeuse as able in point of generalship or as stubborn 
in resistance as the Spaniards made at the siege of Havana. In all 
other cases, from the Elizabethan campaigns in nollaud to the war 
with Mexico, the men educated in the Spanish school of arms have 
been content to spend their energies upon a single assault and then 
flee, sometimes even when the odds were greatly- in their favor. 

The English Armada left Portsmouth on March 5th, 17G2, under 
the command of the gallant Admiral Pococke and Loi'd Albemarle, the 
force moving in seven divisions. It consisted of nineteen ships of the 
line, eighteen frigates or smaller men-of-war, and 150 transports con- 
taining about 10,000 soldiers, nearly all infanti^. At the Island of 
Hayti, then called Hispanola, the British were joined by the success- 
ful expedition from Martinique. Together they sat down before 
Havana, July 6th, 17()2. 

Spain's Intellectual Dry Rot. 

Spain, suffering, as it suffers to-da^-, from intellectual dry rot, had 
known for weeks of the intended beleaguerment. Then, as now, notJi- 
ing adequate was done to meet it. The Governor of Havana, the Mar- 
quis de Gonzalez, was a gallant soldier, as he was to prove; but that 
ounce of prevention which is proverbially worth more than the pound 
of cure, was not taken by him, and the British found the fortifications 
in a partially ruinous condition, and the fourteen ships of the line 
which were lying in the harbor before the city in such a state that tliey 
could hardly be called in commission. The Spanish army of defense 
numbered 27,000 men, and was in better condition; but the Spanish 
sailors were utterly demoralized by the granting of too much shore lib- 
erty, and the best use the Spaniard could put his fighting ships to was 
by sinking them at the entrance to the anchorage to prevent the en- 
trance of the British fleet. Once the enemy was before the city, how- 
ever, all was activity. The fortifications, which were too newly erected 
to be quite incapable of repair, were set in order, the guns of Morro 
Castle and of the fort known as the Puntal, across from it, were 
trained on the advancing foe, and the Spanish ships were sunk, as has 
been said. 

Those familiar with the history of English administrative methods 
during this period will find little to choose between them and the 
methods of Spain. The season of the year most unwholesome to the 
inhabitants of a temperate climate had already set in, with all its 



G-i BL'CCANKKHINCr IX THE SI'ANIiSII MAIN. 

traiu of pestik'nces, when the British aiTive<l. Though deliigetl by the 
treiiieiRlous rains of the tropics from day to clay, the water supply Avas 
wholly insufficient, and the little obtainable was so tainted as to make 
its use fraught with danger. There was no pilot w'ho knew tlie road- 
stead in order to lead the ships against the Morro and the Puntal for 
many days. In throwing; up the parallels and approaches to the walls 
of the city on the landward side, tlie soldiers found such scarcity of 
earth, the blanket over the rocks being of the thinnest sort, that this 
necessary material for covering an attack had to be brought from a 
distance. Then, too, it M'as charged with the genns of disease, and all 
who handled it sulTere<l extremely. Despite all the precautions of the 
officers, tile sanitary condilinn surrounding the caiu]) was luirribic, and 
the troops died like dogs. 

Yankees in Cuba. 

Meanwhile there was a large fun<' of ISrilish regulars in Nortii 
America, stationed there ever since tlie fall of the French empire in 
tiie new world in 17(50. Four thousand of tht^se soldiers were gathered 
in New York City. To them the colonies of East and West Jersey 
added a regiment of .")()0 men. New York another of SOO, while Lyman 
iliised a full thoiisand in Connecticut. When these, too, had been 
assembk'd in New York, Lyman Avas made Brigadier (Jeneral of the 
colonial (roops, and his Lieutenant Colonel, Isi-ael Putnam, was made 
Colonel of (he Connecticut soldiers in his slead. This was the .same 
i'ufnam who fought the wolf single-handed in its cave, and who was 
to take that breakneck ride a few years later to escape the very troops 
with whom he was now associated. The entire force of 2,300 provin- 
cials under < Jeneral Lyman's command was not a mere bevy of raw mili- 
tia. Nearly all of them had seen service against the French in those 
well trained and active forces which were given the general name of 
"IJangers;" the officers especially, of wlunn Putnam was hardly more 
than a tyjte, bi-ing men of extended ex]>erience. The fact that so man^' 
men were willing to volunteer in this arduous and, as it turned out, 
desj>era(e service for the King, speaks volumes for what could have 
been dcme with such men had Pitt and jint Bute been at the head of the 
Knglish nation at that time. The lulvicis fioni Havana showed that 
the army there was in great need of reinforcenu'nts, so by great efforts 
the rcgnliirs and provimials were stowed way in fourteen transports, 
and with an escort of a few fri-rates thev set sail for the South about 



BUCCANEERING IN THE SI'ANISH MAIN. G5 

the middle of May. There were the usual shouts of an admiriug popu- 
lace and the tears of sweethearts and wives; but it is ea.sj^ to say that 
there w^ould have been no rejoicing if the people of Connecticut, the 
Jerseys, and New York could have foreseen that hai'dly one of every 
fifty of their volunteers would see his home again. 

Americans Were Wrecked. 

Just before the arnval of these welcome reinforcements on July 20, 
some English merchantmen had come along with cargoes of cotton 
bags, which were pressed into immediate use for the lines which were 
now closing around Havana; and in the ships were also found several 
pilots. Then the forces from the North came amidst general rejoicings, 
but without I'utnam and 500 of his Yankees. These, in a transport 
which was skirting the dangerous coast much too closely, were ship- 
wrecked on one of the treacherous shoals thereabouts. Putnam, with 
true New England fertility of resource, extemporized rafts from the 
fragments of the vessel and got all his men ashore without the loss of 
a life. They landed near the City of Carthagena, threw up breast- 
works, and were found ready to repel a force of thousands of Span- 
iards when the ships from before Havana arrived for their rescue, 
their own companions wiselj^ pi'essing on and sending aid back from 
the headquarters. 

The American troops went bravely to work, engaging themselves 
chiefly with the undermining of one of the walls. To reach this it was 
necessary for them to pass along a narrow eminence where they were 
in plain view and easy range of the Spaniards. A number were lost 
in this dangerous enterprise, but their valor was dimmed neither by 
this nor by the still heavier losses which came upon them through tiie 
diseases prevalent in every portion of the British camp. Though men 
of such hardiness that they must have been equal in resisting power 
to the British, their losses were comparatively much greater, proving 
that they occupied positions of greater danger, either from bullets or 
the fevers of the region. 

Morro Castle Taken. 

Five days after the arrival of the reinforcements, Lord Albemarle 
judged himself sufficiently strcmg to assault Morro Castle, and the 
word was accordingly given. The sunken ships were blown up early 
on the morning of July 25, and the British ships sailed into the fury 



(5(5 BUCCANEEKIXU IN THK SPANISH MAIN. 

of the Si)aiiish rannon, belcliiii":: shot from aJI aluuy the shore. The 
bi}:; yuns of the ships could uot be t-levatfd suttuieiitly to silence the 
fire from ilorro Castle, and this was accordiiifjly left to be can-ied by 
assault. The Tuutal was silenced, troojis landed, and aftvr five days 
of ferocious fighting, in which the British and American losses were 
enormous by reason of their exposcnl position, and where every one 
concerned exhibited the utmost valor, Morro Castle was carried by the 
bayonet. The fighting within its walls after an entry had been made 
Avas exceedingly fierce. The Manpiis of Gonzalez Avas killed hy liis 
tiwn cowardly men for refusing to surrender. The cannon from the 
other Spanish batteries were turned upon the Morro as soon as the 
Spanish tiag had been lowered, and the British ensign run up in its 
place; and then the slow and <lisastrous work of the siege was taken 
up again. 

As liie lines grew ncaicr and nearer, and the last liope of the Span- 
iard for relief was given up, there was tlie usual attempt made to buy 
tlie attacking paHy o\f. Though it would have been a hopeless under- 
taking at any time, the amount offered for the ransom of the city was 
so far below the treasure which was known to be in the town that the 
offer \\:is made a subject for derisive laughter. Fifteen days after 
Morro Castle had fallen, though the mortality in the trenches was so 
great that a few weeks more must have seen tlie abandonment of the 
enterjirise, the city fell, the garrison stipulating for a passage out with 
all the honors of war, which was freely accoided them, owing to the 
climatic jireilicnmeiit in which Lord Albemarle found himself. It was 
also stijinlated tiiat jirivate propt-rty should be resjiected. This was 
strictly observed, though Spain had .set rei>eated examples of giving a 
(ii]itiired city ovei- to plunder in the face of a stipulation to the con- 
tiary. 

August 14, 17(12, the British entered, the glory of tlieir victory over 
such heavy odds even then dimmed by the enormous unnlaiify. It 
was reckoned that the few days of August had wrought nntre damage 
to the invadiui; fnni's tlian all the weeks of hard labor and open 
assault which had gone befoic In the ( ity — the llavannali, as it was 
then called — treasuri" was found In llie amount of .$7,000,000, mm li of 
it in such shape that there had been abundant time to withdiaw it 
either to Spain or into the interior of the ishmd, had there been any 
other than Spaniards at the head of affairs. 

The occupancy of the British and colonial foi-ces lasted hut a few 
niniidis. I.nid .Mhcm.irle, with .-^llMLOdO of the jn-ize money as his per- 



BUCCANEEKING IN THE 81'ANKSn MAIN. 67 

sonal share, received notice of the concliisu)ii of the treat}' of Paris and 
withdrew his anuy to Great Britain. A single ship sufficed to remove 
the shattered remnant of the soldiers from Connecticut, the Jerseys, 
and New York. Twentj'-three hundred sailed; barely fifty returned. 
It was a part of the good fortune of Ameilca — all of the good fortune, 
to be exact — which brought Colonel Isi'ael Putnam safely home again, 
though the paralysis which shortened his labors not many years after 
the Declaration of Independence was unquestionably due to his ex- 
posure to the vertical sun of Cuba and to the poisons of its i)estilential 
coast. 

In the hands of George III., then King of England, all this suffering 
and deprivation amounted to virtually nothing. He was a coward at 
heart, a man who could not even avail himself of such hardly gained 
victories. The peace of Paris was signed, and by its tenus George 
yielded up Cuba and the Philippines again to the power that has 
never ceased to misuse the advantages so obtained. 



CHAPTER V. 

COMMERCIAL DKNELOPMENT OF CUBA: 

Eirorts of the Early Govi-niors to Encourage Trade — Cultivaliou of Sugai One 
of the First Industries — Decret' Defining Powers of the Captain Oen- 
eral — Attenii)ted Annexation to the United States — The Ostend Mani- 
festo — Its ANonderful Predictions, in the Light of Later Events — Ex- 
ports and Imports Petween Cuba and Spain — The Future of Commer- 
cial ("iiba. 

The coninieire of Cuba Las grown in spite of the liniitatious that 
have been phiced upon it and not because of any encouragement that has 
been giveu to it. Columbus called (^iba the most bea'iitiful land that 
eyes had ever seen. Its resources, granted by a generous nature, have 
enabled it to recujx'rate after destructive warfare \Vith a rapidity sim- 
jdy ama7>ing to tliose accustomed only to the clinuite and the soil of 
the temi)erate zone. The immense industries of Cuba have been ham- 
pered fnmi the beginning by Si)anish oiii)ression and the fact that 
tliey have llourishcd under such unfavorable conditions is a striking 
evidence of what may be expected under a policy of encouragement 
and freedom. Sugar, tobacco, and other tropical products have made 
fortunes for Cuba every year, (»nly to have them stolen by Spanish 
olliceludders, sent tlu^re to idimder all they could get their hand.s upon. 
Willi jH-ace assured, the opportunities for the extension of indnstries 
in the "Pearl of the Antilles" will be enormous. 

The commercial develojunent of Cuba lias come tlirough centuries 
of ilislurbance, warfare, and o])i)ressiou. A simple catalogtie of all the 
evils with wliich the Ctibaus have had to c<(ntend would fill a voltime. 
All tiial can be done here is (o indicate briefly some of the more notable 
events in the history of the islaml after the Hiitish coiuiuests and the 
reliiM|uishment of the i>ri/.e to the Sjianish authorities ujMtn the return 
of ])eace. Near the end nf the last rent my tliei'e came a period whi(di 
o(Tere<l more encouragement to the hope of iiermaneut prosperity in 
<'ul»a than had been offered before. The successive goveniors ap- 
pointed varied in character, it is true, but several of them were liberal 
minded, public spirited men who gave to the colony far belter admin- 



COMMERCIAL DEVELOrMENT OF CUBA. 69 

istration that it had beeu accustomed to. Cue of these was Luis de 
Las Casas, who imparted a new impulse to the agTiculture and com- 
merce of the island. It was under his guidance that trade with the 
United States began to assume importance, and to his efforts was due 
the transfer of the remains of Columbus from Santo Domingo to their 
present resting place in the cathedral at Havana. He encouraged lit- 
erature, science, the fine arts and the erection of various public charit- 
able and educational institutions. He was the founder of the first pub- 
lic library and the first newspaper which had existed in the island. He 
showed his ability as an executive by restraining the restless popula- 
tion under the excitement which accompanied the revolution in the 
neighboring colony of Santo Domingo, which ended by the loss to 
Spain of that island. 

One of the earliest causes of ill feeling between the islanders of 
Cuba and the people of Spain occift'red just at the end of the adminis- 
tration of Las Casas in 1796. In the seventy years prior to that time a 
great navy yard grew up on the Bay of Havana, and 114 war vessels 
were built there to convoy the Spanish treasure ships. All at once this 
flourishing industry was closed on the demand of the ship-builders of 
Spain that the work should be done in the mother country. As might 
have been expected, tJiis aroused great indignation among a large 
number of ]u>ople in Havana who had beeu deiiendent upon the in- 
dustry. 

It was about the same time, or just a hundred years before the out- 
break of our war with Spain, that sugai" became an important article 
of general commerce. Even then, however, it was not an article of 
common consumption, and was held at extravagantly high prices, 
measured by the present cheapness of the article. Market reports of 
the time show that the price appi^oximated forty cents a pound, and 
this at a time when the purchasing power of money was at least twice 
as great as it is now. As the price has faJIen, the product and the con- 
sumption have increased, until of late years it has been an enormous 
source of revenue to the Island of Cuba. When Napoleon Bonaparte 
abducted the royal family of Spain and deposed the Bourbon dynasty 
in ISOS, every member of the provincial counsel of Cuba took an oath 
to preseiwe the island for their legitimate sovereign. The Colonial 
government immediately declared war against Napoleon and pro- 
claimed Ferdinand YII. as king. It was by this action that the colony 
earned its title of "The ever-faithful isle," which has been excellent as 



70 COMMERCIAL DP:VEL()I'.M1:NT of CIHA. 

a couipliuientary {►bi-ase, but hardily ju.stilu'il by the actual facts. For 
some years followiuy this action, affairs iu the islauil were in an em- 
barrassing coudition, owing to the progress of the Napoleonic wars in 
Europe, which ki'iit ;ill trade disturbwl and Spain in a constant condi- 
tion of disorder. 11' ii liad not been for the fortunate election of one 
or two of the governurs things might have been even worse than they 
were, and it was considered that Cuba was enjoying quite as much 
l>eace and prosperity as were her neiglibor colonies and the mother 
governments of Europe. In 1S12 a negro conspiracy broke out and at- 
tained consi<lerable success, and as a result of it the S])aiiish governors 
began to be more and more severe iu their administ radons. 

Under the intiuence of the spirit of freedom wliicli was spreading 
all around them, Cubans became more and more restless. The revolu- 
tionary movements in Sj)anish America had begun in ISIO, and after 
fourteen years of guerrilla warfare, Eurojiean power had vanished in 
the Western hemisphere finin the Northern boundary of the I'nited 
States to Cajte Horn, except for the Colonies of Hritish Honduras and 
the (Juianas, and a few of the West Indian Islands. In 1N21, Santo 
Domingo became independent, and in the same year Florida came into 
the possession of the United States. Secret societies, witli the i)urpose 
of revolution as tiieir motive, begtui to spring up in Cuba, and the pop- 
ulation divided into well-delined factions. There was indeed an at- 
tempt at open revolt made in ISL'.'! Iiy uiic of liiese societies known as 
the "Soles De IJolivar," but it was avnicd before the actual outbreak 
came, and those leaders of it who were not able to escape from Cuba 
were arrested and iiunished. It was as a result of these successive 
events that thi- ntlirc of Captain (Jeneral was created and invested 
with all the powers of Oriental despotism. The functions of the Cap- 
tain Cieneral were defined by a royal decree of May 2S, 1825, to the fol- 
lowing flTect : 

Ills .Mjijcsty, tile King Our Ldid, desiring to obviate the incoiiveiiiences 
tliat iiii;,'lit in exl raiirdinary cases rcsidl fidni a division of command, and 
from the inliTfrrcnct-H an<l preropalivcs of the respedive oflicers; for the 
iiripoi-tant end of preservin;; in tliat jiiecions island his le};ilimate sovereign 
aulliority and the piddic tiani|iiillity throii^Ii pidpcr means, has resolved in 
accordance with tlie tipinion of his coiiiicil of ministers to give to your Excel- 
lency the fidlest aulliority, heslowin;; ni>on yon all the jiowers which by thi' 
royal ordinances are granted to the governors of liesiefjed cities. In conse- 
ipience of tliis, liis .Majesty ;.'ives to your Excellency I lie MKisI aiiiple and 



COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT OP CUBA. 71 

unbounded power, not only to send away from the island any persons in 
office, whatever their occupation, rank, class, or condition, whose continuance 
therein your Excellency may deem injurious, or whose conduct, puhlic or 
private, may alarm you, replacing them with persons faithful to his Majesty 
and deserving of all the confidence of your Excellency; but also to suspend 
the execution of any order whatsoever, or any general provision made con- 
cei'ning any branch of the administration as your Excellency may Ihink most 
suitable to the Royal Service. 

This decree since that time has been substantially the supreme law 
of Cuba, and has never been radically modified by any concessions 
except those given as a last and lingering effort to pl'eserve the sov- 
ereignty of Spain, when after tlii'ee years' progress of the revolution 
she realized that her colony had slipped away from her authority'. 
The decree quoted in itself offers sufticient justification for the 
Cuban revolution in the name of libertv. 



Attempted Annexation to the United States. 

During the present centuiy there have been a. number of attempts 
on the part of men promiuent in public life, both in the Unite'd States 
and Cuba, to arrange a peaceable annexation by the purchase by this 
country of the island 'from Spain. Statesmen of both nations have 
been of the opinion that such a settlement of the difflculty would be 
mutually advantageous, and have used evei'v diplomatic endeavor to 
that end. 

During Thomas Jefferson's term of office, while Spain bowed .be- 
neath the yoke of France, from which there was then no prospect of 
relief, the people of Cuba., feeling themselves imcompetent in force 
to maintain their independence, sent a deputation to Washington, 
proposing the annexation of the island to the federal system of North 
America. 

In 1854 President Pearce instnicted Wni. L. Marcy, his Seci'etai-y 
of State, to arrange a conference of the Ministers of the United States 
to England, France and Spain, to be held with a view to the acquisi- 
tion of Cuba. 

The conference met at Ostend on the 9tli of October, 1854, and 
adjourned to Aix-la-Chapelle, where notes were prepared. Mr. Soule, 
then our Minister to Spain, said in a letter to Mr. Marcy, transmit- 



72 ('(».MMi;iCtl.\I. l»i:VKL()l'.Mi:.\T OF CUBA. 

ting the joint report: "Tlii' (iin'stion of the iuquisition of Cuba by us 
is gaining ground as it grows to be more seriously agitated and con- 
sidered. Now is tlie niouient for us to be done with it, and if it is to 
bring upon us the cahunity of war, let it be now, while the great 
powers of this tontinent are engaged in that stupendous struggle 
wiiich eannot but engage all their strength and tax all their energies 
as long as it lasts, and may, before it ends, eonvulse them all. Neither 
Kngland nor France would be likely to Interfere with us. England 
could not bear to be suddenly shut out of our market, and see her 
iiKinufaetures paralyzed, even by a temporary suspension of her in- 
tercourse with us. And France, with the heavy task now on her 
hands, and when she so eagerly asi)ires to take her seat as the 
acknowledged chief of the European family, would have no induce- 
ment to a.ssume the burden of another war." 

The result of this conference is so interesting in its apidication to 
present conditions that its reproducticm is recjuired to make intel- 
ligible tlic wIkpIi- story of ("ul»a, and we give it here: 

The Osteiid Manifesto. 

Sir: The iiiidcrsigncd, in cnmiiliaiui' with the wish expressed by tlie 
incsidciit in the several confidential desjiatclies you have addressed to us 
respectively, to that eirect, we have met in coiifereijce, first at Ostend, in Hel- 
fjiuni. on the !»tli, lOlli. and lltli instant, and then at .Mxla-Chapelle, in Prus- 
sia, on the days next following, i\\) to the ilate hereof. 

There lias been a full and unreserved interchange of \ lews and seuti- 
nu-nts between us, which we are most liajipy to inform you has resulted 
in-u coi'dial coiiu'idence of opinion on the giave and impcu'tant subjects sub- 
mitted to our (-(Uisideratiiiii. 

Wo have ari'ived at the cdurjiisidn. and are tli<ui>n;;lily c(iiivinc((l lliat 
an iuuuediate and earnest elTort ought to lie made by llie goverumeni nf the 
I'nited States to purcliasi- ('uba from Sjiain at any i)rice f(U' whic li il can 
lie obtained, not exceeding the sum of ? 

1'he proposal should, in our ojiinion. be niade in smli a nianiier as to 
be presented through the necessary (li|iloiiuitic forms to the Supreme Cou- 
Btituent Cortes abcuit to assend>le. On this nninu'ntous (pu-slion, in which the 
people, both of S]>ain and the I'nited States, are so deejdy interested, all 

our proceedings ought to 1 jien. fraid< and pidtlic. They sluiuld be of 

such a rhar.'icter as to challenge the a|i|)i'olialion of the w'orld. 

We firudy believe that, in the jiroj^ress of human events, the time has 
arrived when the vital interests of Spain are as seiioiisly involved in the 










HH SOLDIER'S GOOD BY 




cu.\^rKi;c;;.\o 




> >♦ 




N- 1- -SU-.Ot (.tt^N 
No. 2-THE BATTLE FLAGS OF THE FOURTEENTH REGIMENT N Y ARTILLERY 



(JOMMERt;iAL DEVELOl'MENT OF CUliA. > ^3 

sale, as those of the United States in the i)urehase, of tlie ishmd, and that 
the transaction will prove equally honorable to both nations. 

Under these circurastances we cannot anticipate a failure, unless possibly 
through the malign infltience of foreign powers who possess no right what- 
ever to interfere in the matter. 

We proceed to state some of the reasons which have broiiglil us to this 
conclusion, and for the sake of clearness, we shall specify tliem under two 
distinct heads: 

1. The United States ought, if practicable, to jiurelmse Cuba with as 
little delay as possible. 

2. The probability is great that the government and Cortes of Spain 
will prove willing to sell it, because this would essentially promote the 
highest and best interests of the Spanish people. 

Then, 1. It must be clear to every reflecting mind that, from the pe- 
culiarity of its geographical position, and the considerations attendant on it, 
Cuba is as necessary to the North American republic as any of its present 
members, and that it belongs naturally to that great family of states of 
which the Union is the providential nursery. 

From its locality it commands the mouth of the Mississippi and the im- 
mense and annually increasing trade which must seek this avenue to the 
ocean. 

On the numerous navigable streams, measuring an aggregate course of 
some thirty, thousand miles, w'hich disembogue themselves through this 
magnificent river into the Gulf of Mexico, the increase of the population 
within the last ten j-ears amounts to more than that of the entire Union at 
the time Louisiana w'as annexed to it. 

The natural and main outlet to the products of this entire population, 
the highway of their direct intercourse with the Atlantic and the I'acilic 
States, can never be secure, but must ever be endangered whilst Cuba is a 
dependency of a distant power in whose possession it has proved to be a 
source of constant annoyance and embarrassment to their interests. 

Indeed the Union can never enjoy repose, nor possess reliable security, as 
long as Cuba is not embraced within its boundaries. 

Its immediate acquisition by our government is of paramount impor- 
tance, and we cannot doubt but that it is a consummation devoutly wished 
for by its inhabitants. 

The intercourse which its proximity to our coast begets and encourages 
between them and the citizens of the United States, has, in the progress of 
time, so united their interests and blended their fortunes that they now 
look upon each other as if they were one people, and had but one destiny. 

Considerations exist which render delay in the acquisition of this island 
exceedingly dangerous to the United States. 

The system of immigration and labor lately organized within its limits, 



74 COMMERCIAL DEN'ELOl'.MKNT OP CURA. 

and fill' tyraunj' aud opiirt^ssion whit-li charartcrize its iiuincdiati' rulers 
threat*'!! a!i i!isurit'cti<)!! at every moi!ie!it, whiih may result in diin-ful coiisc 
quenc-es to the American jteojjh'. 

Cuba has thus become to us an unceasiii;; (lanj;or, and a iicnuanenl 
cause of anxiety and ahirm. 

liut we need not enlai'ffe on these to|iics. It can scarcely be aiijirelifiided 
that foreijcn jjowei's, i!i violaticm of international law, would interpose their 
inllueiice with S]iai!i to prevent our aiMjuisition of the island. Its inhabitants 
ai-e now sull'crinj,^ under the woi-st of all possible <j;ovei'uments, that of abso- 
lute despotism, delej^ated by a distant power to irresponsible ajjents, who 
aie cha!if;;ed at short intervals, and who aie tempted to inipi-ove their brief 
opportunity thus atforded to accumulate foi'tunes by the basest means. 

As lon^ as this system shall endure, humanity n!ay in vain demand the 
supjiression of the Africa!i slave trade in tlie island. This is rendered im- 
possible whilst that infamous tralVic i-emains an irresistible temptation and 
a source of immense j)ro(it to needy and avai-icious ofTicials, who, to attain 
their ends, scru|ile not to trample the most sacred ]>ririciph's under foot. 

Tlie Spanish government at home may be well disposed, but e.xperieuct? 
has ])roved that it cannot control these rmiole depositaries of its powei'. 

r.esides, the commercial nations ol' the world cau:iot fail to perceive 
a!id appreciate the };ieat advantages which would result to their peojile from 
a dissolution of the forced and unnatural connection between Spain and 
Cuba, aud the annexation of the latter to the United States. The trade of 
England and France with Cuba would, in that event, assume at once an 
impoitant and i>rolitable character, and lapiilly extend wiili the increasing 
pojiulalion ami jirosperily of the island. 

2. IJiit if the riiiled Slates and every commercial nation would be 
benefited by this tiansfer, the interests of Sjiain would also be gieatly aud 
esHeutially promuled. 

She cannot but si'c lliat smh a siiiii of iiKiiiey as we arc willing to pay 
for the island would all'ect it in the development other vast natural resources. 

Two-thirds of this sum. if employed in the construction of a system of 
raili'ctads, would ultimately prove a .source of greater wealth to the Si)anish 
people than that opened to their vision by Cortex. Their prosjierity would 
date from the ratitication of the ticaty of cession. 

France has already constructi'd cdulinuous lines of railways from Havre, 
.Marseillis, \'alenciennes, and Strasburg, via I'aris, to the Spanish frontier, 
and anxiously awaits the day when Sjiain shall find herself in a condition 
to extend these roads through her nortlnrii piovinces to Madiid, Seville, 
Cadi/,, .Malaga, and the frontiers of I'ortugal. 

This object once accomplished. Spain would become a center of attrac- 
ti<m for the traveling world, and secure a |)ermanent and ])rofitable nuirket 
for her various junduclions. Her (ic'Ids. nnilcr (lie stimulus given to in- 



COMMERCIAL DEVELOI'MENT OF CUBA. 75 

dusti'j by reniuuenitiug prices, would tec-m with ceii-al yiaiu, aud her vine- 
yards would bring forth a vastly increased quantity of choice wines. Spain 
would speedily become what a bountiful Providence intended she should be, 
one of the first nations of continental Europe — rich, powerful and contented. 

Whilst two-thirds of the price of the island would be ample for the com- 
pletion of her most important public improvements, she might with the 
remaining forty millions satisfy the demands now pressing so heavily upon 
her credit, and create a sinking fund which would gradually relieve her 
from the overwhelming debt now paralyzing her energies. 

Such is her present wretched financial condition, that her best bonds are 
sold upon her own bourse at about one-third of their par value; whilst another 
class, on which she pays no interest, have but a nominal value, and are 
quoted at about one-sixth of the amount for which they were issued. Be- 
sides, these latter are held principally by British creditors, who may, from 
day to day, obtain the effective interposition of their own government for 
the purpose of coercing payment. Intimations to that effect have already 
been thrown out from high quarters, and unless some new sources of revenue 
shall enable S])ain to provide for such exigencies, it is not improbable that 
they may be realized. 

Should Spain reject the present golden opportunity for developing hev 
resources and removing her financial embarrassments, it may never again 
return. 

Cuba, in her palmiest days, never yielded her exchequer, after deducting 
the expense of its government, a clear annual income of more than a million 
and a half of dollars. These expenses have increased to such a degree as to 
leave a deficit, chargeable on the treasury of Spain, to the amount of six 
hundred thousand dollars. 

In a pecuniary point of view, therefore, the island is an encumbrance 
instead of a source of profit to the mother country. 

Under no probable circumstance can Cuba ever yield to Spain one 
per cent, on the large amount which the United States are willing to pay 
for its acquisition. But Spain is in imminent danger of losing Cuba without 
remuneration. 

Extreme oppression, it is now universally admitted, justifies any people 
in endeavoring to relieve themselves from the yoke of their oppressors. 
The sufferings which corrupt, arbitrary and unrelenting local administration 
necessarily entail upon the inhabitants of Cuba cannot fail to stimulate and 
keep alive that spirit of resistance and revolution against Spain which has 
of late years been so often manifested. In this condition of affairs it is vain 
to expect that the sympathies of the people of the United States will not 
be warmly enlisted in favor of their oppressed neighbors. 

We know that the President is justly inflexible in his determination to 



■^0 COMMKUriAL l>i;\ KI.Ol'MKNT OF CU15A. 

fxt'cutf till.' iiL'Utralitv laws; but shoiilil llic Cubans tlu-nisi-lvi-s list- iu revolt 
a};aiust the ojUJicssion whiili they suller, no human jiower eould prevent citi- 
zens of the Uuiti-d Stales anil liberal minded men of other countries from 
rushing to their assistance. I'.esides, tlu- iirest'Ut is an aj^e of adventure in 
wiiicli restless and daring spirits abound in every portion of (he world. 

It is not iniju'obable. therefore, that Cuba may bi' wrttsfed from Spain 
by a successful revolution; and in that event she will lose both the island 
and the jirice which we are now williu},' to pay for it — a price far beyond 
what was ever paid by one [H-ople to another for any province. 

It may also be reuuirked that the settlement of this vexed (]Uestiou, 
by the cession of Cuba (o the United States, woidd Idievcr prevent the 
dauf^erous com|ilications ln-tweeii nations to whith it may ollierwise <i\\e 
birth. 

It is certain that, slmuld ihe Culiaus iln-iiiselves organize an insurrection 
ajjainst the Spanish j,'overnnient, and should other independent nations come 
to the aid of Spain in the contest, no human power could, iu our opiuicm, 
prevent Ihe people and j;overnnient of the United States from lakiiiu part in 
such a civil war in support of their neifjlibois and friends. 

r.ut if Spain, dead to the voice of her own interest, and actuated by a 
Rtubboin piide and a false sense of honor, should refuse to sell Cuba to the 
United States, then Ihe (juestion will ari.se. What ought to bi' tlic course of 
Ihe American governnu'ut under such circumstances? 

Self preservation is Ihe lirsl law of nature with States as well as with 
individuals. All nations have, at dilferent periods, acted upon this maxim. 
Although it has been made the pretext f<M- committing llagrant injustice, as in 
Ihe jiartilion <if I'olaufl and other similai' cases which histfu-y recoids, yet the 
principle itself, though often abu.sed, has always been recognized. 

The Unit<-d Slates has never acipured a foot of t<'rritory except by fair 
purchase, or, as in the case of Te.vas, upon Ihe free and voluntary application 
of Ihe p(K)pIe of thai indeiiendeni State, who desiii'd to blend their destinies 
with our own. 

Kven our acipiisitinns from .Mexiio ai'e no exceiiiion lo iliis rule be<ause, 
alllKMigh we might have claimed them by right of con<iuest in a just way, 
yet we purchased them for what was then considered by both iiarties a full 
and am|de etiuivalent 

Our past history forbids that wr should aii|uire the island of Cuba 
without the consent of Sjiain, unless juslilied by the great law of silf jireser- 
valion. We must, in any event, ju'eserve our own conscious lectitude and 
our own self-respect. 

Whilst pursuing this course we <an atVoid to disregard the censures of 
the world, lo which we have been so often and so unjustly exposed. 

After we have offered Spain u fair price for Ciiba, far beyond its present 



COMMERCIAL DEVELOl'MENT OF CUBA. 77 

value, and this shall have been refused, it will then be time to cousidei- the 
question, does Cuba, in the possession of Spain, seriously endanger our in- 
ternal peace and the existence of our cberishiid Union? 

Should this question be answered in the aflirmative, then, by every law, 
human and divine, we shall be justified in wresting it from Spain, if we 
possess the power; and this upon the very same principle that would justify 
an individual in tearing down the burning house of his neighbor if there 
were no other means of preventing the flames from destroying his own home. 

Under such circumstances we ought neither to count the cost, nor regard 
the odds which Spain might enlist against us. We forbear to enter into 
the question, whether the present condition of the island would justify such 
a measure. We should, however, be recreant to our duty, be unworthy of 
our gallant forefathers, and commit base treason against our posterity, 
should we permit Cuba to be Africanized and become a second San Domingo, 
with all its attendant horrors to the white race, and suffer the flames to 
extend to our own neighboring shores, seriojisly to endanger, or actually to 
consume, the fair fabric of our Union. 

We fear that the course and current of events are rapidly tending toward 
such a catastrophe. We, however, hope for the best, though we ought 
certainly to be prepared for the worst. 

We also forbear to investigate the present condition of the questions at 
issue between the United States and Spain. A long series of injuries to our 
people have been committed in Cuba by Spanish oflicials, and are unre- 
dressed. But recently a most flagrant outrage on the rights of American 
litizens, and on the flag of the United States, was perpetrated in the harbor 
of Havana under circumstances which, without immediate redress, would 
have justified a resort to measures of war in vindication of national honor. 
That outrage is not only unatoned, but the Spanish government has deliber- 
ately sanctioned the acts of its subordinates, and assumed the responsibility 
attaching to them. 

Nothing could more impressively teach us the danger to which those 
peaceful relations it has ever been the policy of the United States to cherish 
with foreign nations, are constantly exposed, than the circumstances of that 
case. Situated as Spain and the United States are, the latter has forborne 
to resort to extreme measures. 

But this course cannot, with due regard to their own dignity as an inde- 
pendent nation, continue; and our recommendations, now submitted, are 
dictated by the firm belief that the cession of Cuba to the United States, 
with stipulations as beneficial to Spain as those suggested, is the only effective 
mode of settling all past difl'erences, and cf securing the two countries against 
future collisions. 



78 CU.M.MKKCIAI- DKV KLOI'M KNT OF CUHA. 

We have alivady witnessed the liaiipv results for both eoniitrieii whieli 
followed a similar anaugeiueut in re},Mrd to Florida. 

Yours, vei-v respectfully, 

JA.MES BrciIANAN. 
J. V. MASON. 
riKliUK SOI LK. 
nOX. W.M. L. M-VKCV. Seiictary of State. 

riifnrliiiiatclv l'(ir <'nha liie siijij;esti()us offeriMJ iiy this lonunis- 
sioii were iiol acted iiixiti, aitii(iu;.;h it is not probalih- that Sjiain, evei 
liliiicl li. her own iiiterest.s, would have adiuitfed the jtistiee or reason 
iif I 111' ai\minient, had the offer to jyurchase been made to her. 

Exports and Imports. 

A table showing the amount of liade between ("ulia ami Sjiain 
during the year ls!t| (the last aullientic rc]Kirt), is insi iiiclive: 

luniortalicms hi Ciilia t'liJiii S|iaiM ;j 7,\'S2,i'i'2'2 

Exporfalicns fn.m Ciiha to Sjiaiu 23,412,370 

Dill'erente in favnr of e.\|Miil .'?l.".!ll!l.7."it 

The Future of Commercial Cuba. 

Under ha|)pier cnmlitioiis, iherc can lie mi douiil that Cuba will 
^petnlily attain a much higher state of commercial importance and 
ftrosperity than it lias yet enjoyed. (Jreat as its ])iddu(tiveness has 
been in (he past, well-informed writers assert that ])ro])er development 
of its resources will increase the valm- five-fold, ami a liberal .system 
of government will enable if fo fake advantage of its admirabh' ]iosi- 
tion to gain greater prominence in the commercial world. 



CHAPTEK VI. 

BEAUTIES OF A TROPICAL ISLAND. 

A Delightful Climate — Grand Scenic Surprises — The Caves of Bell^mar — 
The Valley ol the Yuniuri — Under Nature's Dome — Gorgeous Sunsets 
— The Palm Tree Groves— The Home of Fruits and Flowers— The 
Zodiacal Light. 

When the little island of Cuba, "The Pearl of the Antilles," wa.s 
assigned a place upon the terrestrial globe, Nature must have been 
in her most generous mood. Certainly no land beneath the .skies was 
given a more perfect combination of mountains and river.s, forests and 
plains. Situated within and near the border of the northern ti'opical 
zone, the temperature of the low coast lands is that of the tomd zone, 
but the high interior of the island enjoys a delightful climate, and the 
verdure-clad hills, with the graceful palm and cocoa tree clear against 
the pure blue sky, may be seen at all seasons of the year. 

As in other countries on the borders of the tropics, the year is 
divided between a hot and wet season, coiTesponding to the northern 
declination of the sun, and a cool and dry period. The months from 
the beginning of May to October are called the wet season, though 
some i-ain falls in every mouth of the year. 

With May, spring begins in the island, rain and thunder are of 
almost daily occurrence, and the temperature rises high, with little 
daily variation. The period from November to April is called the diy 
season by contrast. 

On a mean of seven years the rain-fall at Havana in the wet season 
has been observed to be 27.8 inches, of the dry months, 12.7, or -tO.5 
inches for the year. 

July and August are the warmest months, and during this period 
the average temperature at Havana is 82 Fahr., fluctuating between a 
maximum of 88 and a minimum of 76. In the cooler months of De- 
cember and .Januaiw the thermometer averages 72, the maximum 
being 78, and minimum 58. The average temperature of the year at 
Havana on a mean of seven years is 77. 

But in the interior, at elevations of over .300 feet above the level 
of the sea, the theniiometer occasionally falls to the freezing point in 



80 BEAUTIES OF A TKOl'lCAl. ISLAND. 

winter. Frost is not unt-oninion, and diiriiiji- uortL winds, thin ice 
may fonn, thouj^b snow is unknown in any pai-t of the island. 

The prevailiii}^ wind is tJie ea.sterly trade breeze, but from Novem- 
ber to February, cool north winds, rarely lasting more than forty- 
eij;lit houi-s, are experienccHl in the western part of the island, to 
which they add a third sea.sonal change. Hurricanes may occur from 
Au<;iY<t to Oct(»ber, but they are rare and sometimes live or six years 
pass without such a stonii. 

Grand Scenic Surprises. 

Many "globe-trotters" who have never includeil this little corner 
of the world in their itinerary, do not appreciate the fact that nowhere 
under tlie sun can be found a more perfect climate, grander mountain 
scenery, more charming valleys, more picturesque ruins, and fertile 
fields than Cuba olTers to their view. 

In another portion of this Avork will be found descriptiims of the 
cities of Cuba, and brief mention here of some of the bcantics of the 
country may not be amiss. 

One of tli<> grandest bits of scenery in the known world is to be 
found in the valley of the Yumuri, rivaling in sublimity (he far-famed 
Look(»nl Mountain view and the Yosemite of the Sierra Nevadas. 
The journey leads over a winding trail, easilj' travei-sed by the native 
horses, up a steep hill, until, after a continuous climb of an hour and 
a half, the road turns around tho edge of a gra.ssy precipice, and the 
beautiful valley, with its patches of green and gold, spreads away in 
the distance. The little river of Yumuri winds its way tlirt)Ugh its 
(lower-decked baidis until it reaches (he bay beyond, while in the dis- 
tance rise the mighty mountains, clad in (heir coats of <>vergreen, anil 
over all (he (l(H'cy clouds, ami (he sky of azure blue. 

In (his vicini(y an r»jii>(ir(uiu(y is given (he sigh(-seer t(t visit a 
sugar house and gain an iilea of (ho sugar-making ])rocess, though on 
a very small scale, and ciiJDy a half an linnr in the study nf the n;ilives, 
and their home life. 

A traveler, in writing of (his jtlace, says: 

"Our interview with the li((le black Miinos' was highly amusing. 
On en(ering the (durt yard <if the negro <|uarters, a dozen little black 
imjis, of all ages and sexes and sizes, perfectly naked, rushed towards 
us, and crossing their anus upon their brea.sts, fell upon (heir knees 
liefnre u,s, and jabbereil and muttered, out of which cnuhl Ix- distill-' 



BEAUTIES OF A TROPICAL ISLAND. 81 

guished, 'Miisler, luaslt'r, give us thy ble.ssiug,' which we interpreted 
to mean 'tin;' whereupon we scattered sundry 'niedios' among them! 
lley! presto! what a change! The little black devils fell over (me 
another, fought, tugged, and scrambled to secure a prize, while aaiy- 
one who had been lucky enough to obtain a coin, marched off in a 
state of dignified delight, his distended little stomach going before 
him like a small beer barrel, while the owner of it kept shouting out, 
'Medio, yo tengo medio' (five cents, I have five cents)." 

The Caves of Bellamar. 

One of the most interesting trips that can be made is to the "Oaves 
of Bellanuu'," which may be found about two ami a half miles south- 
east of the city of Matanzas. 

The journey taies the traveler up a winding and rugged road to 
the top of a hill, where the "Gave house" is reached, a large frame 
structure built over the entrance, and containing, among other objects 
of interest, a large collection of beautiful crystal formations found in 
the cave. 

Here the tourist enters his name in the visitors' register, pays his 
dollar, and follows the boy guide down the staire into the cave. About 
one hundred and fifty feet from the entrance a small bridge is crossed, 
and the "Gothic Temple" is reached. The only light conies from a few 
scattered lanterns, and is consequently very obscure, but one can see 
the millions of crystals, the thousand weird forms, and realize that it 
is surpassingly beautiful. The temple is about two hundred feet in 
length and seventy feet in width, and while it does not equal in size 
or solemn grandeur the temple of tJie same name in the Mammoth 
cave of Kentucky, it greatly excels it in the richness and splendor of 
its crystal formations and beautiful effects. 

The spectator povssessed of strongly developed imaginative powders 
cannot fail to feel himself in faiiy land. From the gloomy comers 
come gnomes and demons, and in the crystal shadows he sees sprites 
and lovely fairies, keeping gay revel to dreamy airs, played on invisi- 
ble strings by spii-it hands. 

One of the most beautiful objects in the cave is the "Fountain of 
Snow," a name given to one of the great pillars, called by the natives 
the "Cloak of the Virgin." Others are known as "Columbus Mantle," 
"The Altar," and "The Guardian Spirit." 

"Who has not seen the Caves of Bellamar has not seen Cuba." 

6 



83 UKAITIES OF A TKOl'KAL ISLAND. 



Under Nature's Dome. 

One (»f till- most vivid iticics of dcsciiiiiivi' writiiiji, rrt'cn-in<; to tin* 
bt'uutii's of Cuban skies, is from tlu- lU'ii of James M. I'iiillipiio: 

"The splendor of the early dawn in Cuba, as in the tropital islands 
in its vicinity, lias been referred to. Thi' whole sky is often so re- 
splendent that it is diflicult to determine where the orb of day will 
appear. Small Hi'ocy elonds are often .seen tioatiuj^ on the north wind, 
and as they hover over the mountains and meet the rays of the sun, 
are ihanj^ed into li{]uid };old and a hundred iuten.sely beautiful dyes 
more splendid than the tints of the rainbow. Durinj; the etK)ler 
month.s, the niornin;;s are delij^htful till about ten o'clock, the air soon 
after dawn becoming; a<;reeably elastic, and .so transparent that dis- 
tant objects ap|)ear as if delineated liixm the bright surface of the air; 
I lie scenery everywhere, esiM'cially wlit-ii viewed from an emincinc, is 
indescribably rich and glowinj;; the lops of the risinu,- j;rounds and 
the summit.s of the numntains are radiant with a Hood of li^lit, while 
the vapor is seen creejiinji alonj; the valleys, here concealing the 
c'Utrance to some beautiful jilen, ami there wreathiuii- itself fantastic- 
ally around a tall sjiirc or j;rovcs of pjilm trees llial mark llic site of 
a i>o|iulous villajie. 

"The linest and most {jorjicous sunsets occur in the West Indian 
Archipelajro durinji the rainy seasons. The sky is then subliniely 
mantled with <;i;,Mntic masses of cloud, {ilowiii};- with a tliou.sand ^or- 
<;eous dyes, ami seeming to collect at the close of day as thouj^h to 
form a <'ouch for the sun's rei>ose. In these he sinks, lloodiufj them 
with ;ilory, touchinj^ b<»th heavens and earth with {^old and amber 
brijihiness lonj; after he has fluufj his beams acro.ss the other hemi- 
sphere, or perhaj)s half revcjilinj,' himself throu<j:li jrauze-like clouds, a 
crimson sjdiere, at once rayless ami of puptcntous size. 

"The azure arch, which by an optical illusion limits our view on 
every side, seems here, ami in the tropics "generally, higher than in 
Knjilaiul, even hijiher than in Italy. Here is seen, in a jjerfintion com- 
l)areil to which even Italian skies are vai)iil and uninterestin<r, that 
]iure, serene, boundless sky, that atmosphere of clear blue, or vivid 
red, which .so much contributes to enrich tli<> i»encil of Claude Lor- 
laiiie. The atmosphere of Cuba, as everywhere within the tro])ics, 
e\c cpl when the hi.!^! winds ]>revail, is .so uii]i(dlnted. so thin, so elas- 
tic, so (irv, s(» .serene, and so almost iiiconccivaldy li:insp:ii-ciit and 



BEAUTIES OF A TKOnCAL ISLAND. 83 

brilliant, that eveiy object is distinct and clearly defined as^ if cut out 
of the clear blue sky. All travelers agree in praising the calm depths 
of the intensely blue and gloriously bright skies of inter- tropical lati- 
tudes. In the temperate zone, it is estimated that about 1,000 stars 
are visible to the naJced eye at onie time; but here, from the increased 
elevation and wider extent of the vault, owing to the clearness of the 
atmosxihere, especially as seen from a high mountain chain, the num- 
ber is greatly augmented. If, however, these luminaries may not be 
seen here in greater numbers, they certainly shine with greater bril- 
liancy. The different constellations ai'e indeed so greatly magnified as 
to give the inii)ression that the power of the eye is increased. Venus 
rises like a little moon, and in the absence of the greater casts a dis- 
tinguishable shadow. 

"The Milky Way, which in the temperate zone has the appearance 
of a luminous phosphorescent cloud, and, as is well known, derives its 
brightness from the diffused light of myriads of stars condensed into 
so small s^jace that fifty thousand of them are estimated to i^^a^ss across 
the disc of the telescope in an hour, is here seen divided into oonstella- 
tions, and the whole galaxy is of so dazzling a. whiteness as to make 
it resemble a pure flame of silveiy light thrown across the heti-vens, 
turning the atmosphere into a kind of green transparenc.y. Besides 
this, there are vast masses of stellar nebuhe of indefinite diversity and 
form, oval, oblate, elliptical, as well as of different degrees of density, 
diffused over the firmament, and discoverable through a common tele- 
scope, all novel to an inhabitant of temperate climes, and recalling the 
exclamation of the psalmist: 'The heavens declare the glory of God. 
. . . the firmament showeth forth Ilis handiwork.' 

*■ 'The stars 
Are ckler script in'c, writ of (!od"s own hand, 
Scripture authentic, uncorrupt by man.' 

"An interesting phenomenon sometimes occui's here, as in other 
islands of the West Indies, which was long supposed to be seen 
only in the eastern hemisphere. A short time before sunrise or sunset, 
a flush of strong, white light, like that of the Aurora Borealis, extends 
from the horizon a considerable way up the zenith, and so resembles 
the dawn as to prove greatly deceptive to a stranger. As he watches 
the luminous track he sees it decrease instead of becoming more vivid, 
and at length totally disappear, leaving the heavens nearh" as dark as 
previous to its appearance. This is the zodiacal light.'^ 



ClIAl'TKi: VII. 
WEALTH FKOM NATUKE'8 STOIJKS IN THE FORESTS AND FIELDS 

OF crr.A. 

Tlie raliii Tivc, thi' (iiii'iii of tin- Ciiliaii Forests — Supir Cam- aud Its Culti- 
val idii — Tlic'Tobario Iiuliislry — Truiiiial Fruits au<l Flowers — Heaiities 
tif a (lardeu in Cuba — Euoruious Sliipiueuts to Spain — Tlie Wealtli of 
the Uhiiu\. 

The forests of Cuba are of vast extent, and so ili iim- as to be almost 
ini|)enetial)le. It is estimated that of about 2(»,0(U>,(l(»ti acres of laml 
still remaininji perfeetly wild and uncultivated, nearly i;5,0(K),(IOO are 
uncleared forest. Maliojfany and other hard woods, such a.s the Cuban 
ebonv, cedar, and <jranadilla, valuable for manufactures, cabinet work 
antl shi|> biiiblinj; are indii^enous, and are exported to a considerable 
extent. 

The ]»alm is the (|Ueen of the <'nbaii forests and is its most valuable 
tree. It urows in every jtart <ir the island, but especially in the west, 
;iivin^ at onci- character and beauty to the scenery. The royal i)alm 
is the most common variety, and frequently jj^rows to a hei<;;ht of one 
iiundred and twenty feet, the branches numberinfr from twenty to 
twenty-live, in the center (►f which are the IieaHs or bu-is of the iiiaut, 
elevatin;^ themselves jierpendicidarly with n(»edle-lil<<> points. 

This hi-art, enveloped in wrappers of tender white leaves, makes a 
most delicious salad, and it is also boiled like cauliflower, and served 
with a <leliiale white sauce. The truidv of the palm is comjxised of 
fibrous matter, which is stripped off and dried, forming a narrow, thin 
board, which the natives use f(»r the walls of their cottaires. The 
b(.u<;hs are sonu'tinies made to serve fur roolinfr, though palm leaves 
are usually use<l for this ]niiTio.se, as well as for the linin<is of the 
walls. "Kl yarey" is another variety f>f the j)alm ti-oe that is of j^reat 
utility. From it the native wrunen make the palm leaf hats that are 
worn by almo.st all the villagers and country people of Cuba. 



WEALTH FROM NATURE'S STORES. 85 

Tropical Fruits in Abundance. 

The fruits of Cuba are those comiuou to the tropics. Bauauas, pine- 
apples, orauyes, lemons and bread-fruit all grow in abundance, deli- 
cious to the taste and delightful to the eye. 

Richard Henry Dana, Jr., after returning from a vacation trip to 
Cuba, wrote a charming description of a fruit garden that it was his 
good fortune to visit there: 

"The garden contained a remarkable variety of trees, including 
some thrifty exotics. Here the mango, with its peach-like foliage, was 
bending on the ground witli the weight of its ripening fruit; the alli- 
gator pear was mai-velgusly beautiful in its full blossom, suggesting, 
in form and color, the passion flower; the soft, delicate foliage of the 
tamarind was like our sensitive plant; the banana trees were in full 
bearing, the deep green fruit (it is ripened and turns yellow off the 
tree), being in clusters of a hundred, more or less, tipped at the same 
time by a single, pendent, glutinous bud, nearly as large as a pine- 
apple. The date palm, so suggestive of the far east, and the only one 
we had seen in Cuba, was re]>resented by a choice specimen, imported 
in its youth. There was also the star-apple tree, remarkable for its 
uniform and graceful shape, full of green fruit, with here and there 
a ripening specimen; so, also, was the favorite zapota, its rasty coated 
fruit hanging in tempting abundance. From low, broad spreading 
trees depended tlu^ grape fruit, as large as an infant's head and yellow 
as gold, while the orange, lime and lemon trees, bearing blossoms, 
green and ripe fruit all together, met the eye at every tuni, and filled 
the garden with fragrance. The cocoanut palm, with its tall, straight 
stem, and clustering fruit, dominated all the rest. C.uava, fig, custard 
apple, and brend-fmit trees, all were in bearing. 

"Our hos]»itnble host iducked freely of the choicest for the benefit 
of his chance visitors. Was there ever such a fruit garden before, or 
elsewhere? It told of fertility of soil and deliciousness of climate, of 
care, judgment, and liberal expenditure, all of which combined had 
turned these half a dozen acres of land into a Can Eden. Through his 
orchard of Hesperides, we were accompanied also by the proprietoi-'s 
two lovely children, under nine years of age, with such wealth of 
promise in their large black eyes and sweet faces as to fix them on our 
memory with photographic fidelity. Before leaving the garden we 
returned with our intelligent host once more to examine his beautiful 



86 WEALTH FROM NATURE'S STORES. 

speiimous of banauas, w iii( li, with its sister finiit, the plantain, forms 
so important a staple of fruit iu Cuba and tliroujjhout all tropical 
re«;ious. It seems that the female banana tree bears moi"e fniit than 
the male, but not so larj^e. The avera^'e ilustei"s of the former com- 
prise here about one hundred, but the latter rarely bears over sixty or 
seventy distinct sjiecimens of the cucumber-shaptHl product. From 
the center of its lar^'c, broad leaves, wliii h jiather at the toj), when it 
has reached the heij^iit ttf twelve or lifteeu feet, there sprin.ns forth a 
lar}j;e purple bud ten inches hm^, shapeil like a hujje accirn, though 
more pointed. This cone iianj;s sus]Kiided from a stronj; stem, ujwn 
which a leaf unfolds, displayiuj;- a cluster of ^ouug fruit. As soon a.s 
the.se are large enough to supjMul tiie heat of the sun and the chill of 
the rain, this sheltering leaf drops off, and another uufidds, exposing 
its little brood of fruit; aJid so the i)rocess goes on, until six or eight 
rings of young bananas are st;irte<l, forming, as we have saitl, bunches 
numbering from seventy to a hun<lred. The banana is a herbaceous 
jdant, and after fruiting, its top tlics; but it annually s]>routs uj) again 
frcsli from tlie roots. I'roui the unripe fruit, dried in tiie sun, a palat- 
iil)li- :inil nutritions Hour is made." 

The Tobacco Industry. 

Cuban tobacco is fanuuis thioughout tlie worhl, and is one of the 
most protitable of all its jtroducts. Trior to ITMl the crop was s<'Ut to 
the national factories in Spain, liy (lie "Couunercial (\)m])any of 
Havana," under gtivernmeut conlrai t, hut during that year tlu' "Fac- 
toria de Tobacco" was established in Havana by tiie government. The 
tobacco was classilie<l as superior, nu-dium ami inferior, and was vo- 
ceived from the growers at lixed prices. In 1S04 these were six, live 
and two and a half dollai-s per arrobe (a Spanish unit of weight, .sub- 
je( I to local vanations, but averaging about twenty-seven ]»ounds 
a\'oinlupois). 

15y compaiing liie dilTi-i-rnt jiriics witii tlie (|nanlity of each class 
of tol>acco produccil, we lind tluil tiie "I'acloria" paid an average price 
of .'<1<; per liundred i»ounds fctr the leaf tobacco. With the exix'use of 
manufacture, the i-igai-s cost the government .seventy-five cents iwr 
poiMul; snuff, fine grain and good color, foi-ty-three cent.s, and com- 
mon soft, or Seville, nineteen cents a pound in Havana. In good years, 
wiien tlie crop amounted to 3r.0,000 arrobes of leaf, 12S,()()(» arrobes 
were manufactured for Spain, .S(),(»0(> for Havana, 9,200 for Peru, G,000 



WEALTH FROM NATURE'S STORES. 87 

for Buenos Ayres, 2,240 for Mexico, and 1,1(10 for Caracas and Cam- 
peachy. 

In order to make up the amount of 3ir),000 ari'obe.s, (for the crop 
loses ten per cent, of its weight, in loss and damage in the transporta- 
tion and manufacture) we must suppose that 80,000 arrobes were con- 
sumed in the interior of the island; that is, in the country, where the 
royal monopoly did not extend. The maintenance of 120 slaves and 
the expenses of manufacture did not exceed |12,000 yearly; but the 
salaries of the officers of the "Factoria" amounted to |o41,000. The 
value of the 128,000 aiTobes of tobacco sent to Spain, in the abundant 
years, either in cigai*s, leaf or snuff, at the customary prices there, 
exceeded the sum of five milliou dollars. 

It is surprising to see in the returns of the exports from Havana 
(documents published by the Consulado), that the exports for 1816 
were only 3,400 arrobes; for the year 1823, only 13,900 arrobes of leaf 
tobacco; and in 1825 only 70,302 pounds of cigai-s and 107,100 pounds 
of leaf tobacco and strips; but we must remember that no branch of 
the contraband trade is more active than that in cigars. The tobacco 
of the Vuelta de Abajo is the most celebrated, but large quantities are 
exported which are produced in other parts of the island. ' The cultiva- 
tion of tobacco has been one of the most uncertain branches of indus- 
try in Cuba. Trammeled by restrictions and exactions, it was con- 
fined almost entirely to the poorer classes of the population, who were 
enabled to raise a scanty and uncertain crop through the advances of 
capital made them by the "Factoria." Since the suppression of this 
monopoly, it has had to contend with the more popular and profitable 
pursuit <jf sugar planting, wliich has successfully competed with it for 
the employment of the capital, skill and labor of the island. 

Sugar Cane and Its Cultivation. 

Maturin Ballon, in his "Cuba I'ast and I'resent," published in 188."), 
when the sugar industry wa.s in its best days, wi'ites an interesting 
account of cane cultivation: 

"Sugar cane is cultivated like Indian corn, which it also resembles 
in appearance. It is first planted in rows, not in hills, and must be 
hoed and weeded until it gets high enough to shade its roots. Then 
it may be left to itself until it reaches maturity. This refers to the 
first laying out of a plantation, which will afteiT\-ards continue fruit- 
ful for years, by very simple processes of renewal. When thoroughly 



88 WKALTII FKo.M XATIKKS STORES. 

ripe the cane is of a liji:lit golden yellow, streaked here and there with 
red. The top is dark green, with lonji, narrow leaves depending, very 
much like those of the com stalk, from the center of which shoots 
upward a sih'ery stem, a eoui)le of feet in height, and from its tip 
grows a white fringed plume of a delicate lilac hue. The effect of a 
large field at its maturity, lying under a tomd sxin, and gently yield- 
ing to the breeze, is ver^- tine, a picture to live in the memoiy ever 
after. 

"In the coniiK'tidon bclwccn llic produils of beet-root, sugar and 
that from sugar cane, the former controls the market, because it can 
be jiroduccHl at a cheaper rate, besides which its production is stimu- 
lated by nearly all of the European states, through the means of lib- 
eral subsidies both to the farmer and to the manufacturer. Beet 
sugar, however, does not jxissess so high a percentage of true sac- 
charine matter as the product of the cane, the latter seeming to be 
nature's most direct mode ttf supplying us with the ai'ticie. The 
Cuban planters Inivc one advantiigc over all other sugar-cane produc- 
ing countries, in the great aJid inexhaustible fertility of the soil of 
the island. For instance, one or two hogsheads of sugar to the acre 
is considered a good yield in .Taiiiaica, but in Cuba three hogsheads 
are the average. Fertilizing of any sort is rarely eni])loy('d in the cane 
fields, while in beet farming it is the principal agent of success. 
Though the modern machinery, as lately adojited on the plantations, 
is very expensive, still (he result acliieve<l by it is so much sn]ieiior to 
tliMl di' liir old nirlliiMls nf manufacture, that ihr siiuill phmtrrs :n-e 
being (lri\cii froiii ilie market. Slave labor cannot I'oiupele with 
tniicliinery. The htw ]>rice of siig;ir renders e<'onomy imperative in all 
br;inilies of the business, in order to le;ive a. margin for jirolil. 

"A iihinier ini'ornied the ;inllinr iluit he slmnld siireiid nil nl' liis 
niolassi's upon the cane fields this yenr as a fertilizer, rather lliiin send 
it to a distiinl in;irket, and re<-eive only what it cost. He further said 
that thousamls of acres of sugar caiu' wouhl be allowe<l to rot in the 
fields this season, :is it would cost more to cut, grind, ])ack and send 
it to market, tlmii could be realized for the manufactured article. Had 
the j>rice of sugar reiiwiined this year at a figure which would afford 
the |»l;inlers a fair i»rofil, it might have been the means of tiding over 
the chasm of bankrui»tcy which has long stared them in the face, and 
ui»on the brink of which they now stand, lint with a more than 
average cro|», both :is to i|Uiintity and (piality, whether to gather it or 
not is a problem. Iinlei- tliese rin unistances it is difficult to s;iy what 



WEALTH FROM NATURE'S STORES. 89 

is to become, financially, of tJie people of ('uba. Sugar is tlieir great 
staple, but all business has been equally suppressed upon the island, 
under the bane of civil laws, extortionate taxation, and oppressive 
rule. 

"The sugar cane yields but one crop a year. There are several 
varieties, but the Otaheitan seems to be the most generally cultivated. 
Between the time when enough of the cane is ripe to warrant the get- 
ting up of steam at the grinding mill, and the time when the heat and 
the rain spoils its qualities, all the sugar for the season must be made, 
hence the necessity for gTeat industry on large estates. In Louisiana 
the gxinding lasts but about eight weeks. In Cuba it continues four 
months. In analyzing the sugar produced on the island, and compar- 
ing it with that of the main land, the growth of Louisiana, chemists 
could find no difference as to the quality of the time saccharine prin- 
ciple contained in each. 

"The great sugar estates lie in the Vueltra Arriba, the region of 
the famous red earth. The face of this region smiles with prosperity. 
In every direction the traveler rides astonished through a garden of 
plenty, equally impressed by the magnificent extent, and the profuse 
fertility of the estates, whose palm avenues, plantain orchards, and 
cane fields succeed each other in almost unbroken succession. So pro- 
ductive are the estates, and so steady is the demand for tlie planter's 
crop, that the great sugar planters are, in truth, princes of agriculture. 

"The imposing scale of operations on a great plantation, imparts a 
character of barbaric regal state to the life one leads there. Look- 
ing at them simply as an entertainment, the mills of these great sugar 
estates are not incongruous with the easy delight of the place. Every- 
thing is open and airy, and the processes of the beautiful steam ma- 
chinery go on without the odors as without the noises that make most 
manufactories odious. In the centrifugal process of sugar maJcing, the 
molasses pa.sses into a large vat, by the side of which is a row of 
double cylinders, the outer one of solid metal, the inner of wire gauze. 
These cylinders revolve each on an axis attached by a horizontal 
wheel and band to a .shaft which communicates with the central 
engine. The' molasses is ladled out into the spaces between the exter- 
nal and internal cylinders, and the axes are set in motion at the rate 
of nineteen hundred revolutions a minute. For three nnnutes you see 
only a white indistinct whirling, then the motion is arrested, slowly 
and more sloAvly the cylinders revolve, then stop, and behold! the 
W'hole inner surface of the inner cylinder is covered with beautiful 



90 WKALTII FROM XATL'KE'.S STOKES. 

<r\.stallizatii»iis of ii lij;lit yi-llow .suj;ar. Watcliiiijj; this iu<;(>nicius 
]>r()ccss, I uscil to faiicv that somewhat in this wise might tiie nebuhe 
of space he shiwlv fashioiiiiii; into worlds." 

How Cuba Has Been Robbed by Spain. 

Some Icnowktlge of the enonuous wealth that has aconiwl to Spain 
from her Cnban possessions may be gaiueil from tlie following quota- 
tion from "Cuba and the Cubans," published in New York in 1850 by 
Haimundo Cabrera : 

"Oh, we are truly rich! 

"From 1S12 to 1820, (^iba, with her own resources, covered the 
exiienilitures of the treasury. Our (i|)ulence dates from that periwl. 
^\■e had already suHlcieut negro .-slaves to cut down our virgin forests, 
and ample authority to force them to work 

"By means of our vices and our luxuiT, and in spite of the hatred 
of everything Sjiainsh, which Jloreno attributinl to u.s, we sent, in 
1827, the tir.st little million of hard cash to the treasury of the natron. 
From that time until 18(14 we continued to send yearly to the mother 
couuti"j- two millions and a half of the same stulT. According to sev- 
eral S]>anish statistician.**, these sums amouutetl, in 18(>4, to §80,107,- 
287. \\i' Wire \<Mv ri( h, don't you .see? tremendously rich. V\'e con- 
tributiMl mure than live million d.dhirs towards the requirements of 
the reniiisnlar — l?."),:'72,20.'i. We itaid, in gi-eat jrart, the cost of the 
war in Africa. Tlic individual dinialiiMis alnne anmunling to falnilous 
sums. 

"Hut of coui-se we have never voted for our own iin]iosls; they 
have been force<l iipon us because we are so nch. In 18(12, we had in 
a state of i)roduction the fidlowing estates: 2,712 stock fanns, 1,521 
sugar plantjitions, 782 coffe*- jilaiilatious, (>,175 cattle ranche.s, 18 
cocoa plantations, .35 cotton jdantatiiuis, 22,748 pnuluce fanu.s, 11,737 
truck fanu.s, 11,541 tobacco ]ilantatious, 1,731 apiaries, 1.53 count ry 
resorts, 243 distilleries, 4(i8 tile works, 504 lime kilns, 03 charcoal fur- 
naces, 54 cassava-breatl fa<tories, and (51 tannei-ies. To-day I do not 
kiutw what we ])ossess, becau.se there are no statistics, and because 
the recently organized assi'ssment is a, hodge podge and a new bur- 
den; but we have more than at that time; surely we must have a 
great deal more. 

"For a very long tinu- we have boi-ne the expenses of the convict 
settiiiiiiiii of l'( inaudd I'u. Wf iiaid for the ill-starred Mexican expe- 



WEALTH FROM NATURE'S STORES. 91 



dition, the costs of the wai" in San Domingo, and with the republics 
the racilic. llow can we possibly be poor? While England, Fran 



of 
■ance 

and Holland appropriate large sums for the requirements of their col- 
onies, Spain does not contribute a single cent for hers. We do not 
need it, we are wading deep in rivers of gold. If the fertility of our 
soil did not come to oiu' rescue, we must, perforce, have become 
enriched by the system of protection to the commerce of the mother 

country The four columns of the tariff are indeed a 

sublime invention.. Our agricultural industries require foreign ma- 
chinery, tools and utensils, which Spain does not supply, but, as she 
knows that we have gold to spare, she may make us pay for tliem very 
high. And since our sugar is to be sold to tlie United States . . 
never mind what the}- cost. When there are earthquakes in Andalusia 
and inundations in Murcia, hatred does not prevent us from sending 
to our attiieted brethren large sums . . . (which sometimes fail 
to reach their destination.) 

"We are opulent? Let us see if we are. From tJie earliest times 
down to the present, the officials who come to Cuba, amass, in the 
briefest space of time, fortunes, to be dissipated in Madrid, and which 
appear never to disturb their consciences. This country is vei*y rich, 
incalculably rich. In 1S30 we contributed |fi,120,934; in 1810, |9,605,- 
877; in 1850, .^10,074,077; in ISfiO, ,^29,(;i0,779. During the war we 
did not merely contribute, we bletl. We had to carry the budget of 
182,000,000. 

"We count 1,-500,000 inhabitants, that is to say, one million and a 
half of vicious, voluptuous, pompous spendthrifts, full of hatred and 
low passions, who contribute to the public charges, and never receive 
a cent in exchange, who have given as much as |92 per capita, and 
who at the present moment pay to the state what no other taxpayers 
the world over have ever contributed. Does anyone say that we are 
not prodigiously, enviably rich?" 



CUAPTEK VIII. 

THE CUBANkS, and UOW THKV LIVE. 

Lift* iu till' Rural Districts — A Cuban ISill of Fait' — The Auiust-uients of the 
C'ouutiy roopk- — Sports of tlu- Carnival — Native Dances — An Island 
Farm — Fruit Used for Hread — Cattle Handles and Stock Farms — Poji- 
ulation of the Island — Education and Heli'iion — Kailwavs and Steaiu- 
sliiji Lines. 

The traveler from the north, lamliiij; for the tii-st time on Cuban 
shores, will discover his jireatest delijiht in the radical chanj^es he 
finds frcmi everything he lia.s bei-n accustomed to in his own land. If 
lie has read Prescott and Irvinjr, be knows somethiii<;- of Castilian 
manners and cnsfoms in theory, but as the peculiarities ()f tlie jieople, 
their home life, their amuseiiient.s, their re!i<::ious observances, and 
their biisini'ss methods are bronjiUt before him in reality, he is im- 
prcsstnl with the constant chanii of il^tvelty. 

Iu times of jx'ace, the ivjttive of Cuban soil in tlie niial districts 
knows nofhinj; of the stru<r}jle for existence whicii faces the majority 
of mankiiiil in colder climes. He "toils not, neither does he spin," for 
the reason that natun* jirovides so freely that verj- little exeiliou is 
necessjiry t4t secure her ix'iUa. .Occasionally he may plow, or sow a 
little j^raiii, or even juck fniit, but, as a rnle, he leaves the lalior to 
the ne^iroes. If he lives on a main-travel(Hl road^ he may possibly ])ro- 
vide entertainment for man anil be-.ist, wliere he tleliiilits in j^ossijiing 
with all who come his way, and is ready to driidc whenever invited. 

Neither do(>s his raiment pos.sess the Rlory of Solomon'.s, for it 
generally consists of a i)air of loose trousers, belte<l with a leatlier 
l>and, a linen shirt of brilliant line, fre<|u<'Utly woiu outside his panl;i- 
looiis, a silk handkerchief fa.sfene<l about his luail, a palm-leaf hat, 
and bare feet enca.sed in leather slippeis. 

lie is a.stute, though fnink, boastful, lhouj,di brave, ami supersti- 
tious, if not reli};ions. Ciambliii}; is his chief deli^dil^ and his li<;htinfj 
cocks receive more attention than his wife and family. 

His better half is more resene<l than her lord, especially witii 
stran;,'ers. She is an adi-pf horse-woiiiaii, thoiiiili shi' sometimes 



THE CUHA.XS AND OOW THEY LIVE. 93 

shares the animal's back with her husband, riding in front of him, 
almost on the neck of the horse. Her dress is the acme of simplicity 
(sometimes rather too simple to suit conventional ideas), and consists 
of a loose frock, and a handkerchief tied ai'ound her neck. Like her 
husband she dispenses with stockings, except on occasions of cere- 
mony. Her pride is her hair, on which she bestows a gi-eat deal of 
attention, and she delights in displaying it at eveiy possible oppor- 
tunity. 

A Cuban Bill of Tare. 

The mode of life among the people of these rural districts is entirely 
unlike that of the residents of the cities. This difference extends even 
to their food and the manner of preparing it. In the populous centers, 
especially among the better classes, the table seiwice is of the French 
mode, but among the country people will be found the real Cuban 
cuisine. 

The morning meal usually consists of fi'ied pork, of which they are 
very fond, boiled rice, and roasted plantain, which serves them for 
bread. Beef, birds or i"oast pork are served for dinner, together with 
plantains and a stew composed of fresh meat, dried meat, green plan- 
tains, and all kinds of vegetables. These are cooked in a broth, thick- 
ened with a farinaceous root called nialanga, and flavored with lemon 
juice. Rice is a staple article of diet, and no meal is complete with- 
out it. 

Rural Amusements. 

It is not in gastronomy alone that the Cubans of the country dis- 
tricts differ from their city cousins. They have their special amuse- 
ments, some of which seem cruel to people of refinement, but it may be 
said in their defense that football is not a popular game on the island. 

Cock fighting is the national spori, and men, women and children 
will wager their la.st possession on the result of an encounter between 
chickens of fighting blood. The goose fight is another cruel sport. 
T\\'o poles are placed in the ground, A^ith a rope stretched between 
them, on which a live goose is hung with its feet securely tied, and 
its head thoroughly greased. The contestants are on horseback, and 
ride at full speed i)a.st the goose, endeavoring to seize its head and sep- 
arate it from the body as they pass. The fowl usually dies before the 



94 THE ("IMANS AM» lloU TIIKV LIVE. 

ffforts are successful, but the liiler wlm linallv sucroctls in I he noble 
endeavor jjains tlie j^lory autl the prizi-. 

Tliere is a patron sjiint for every villaj;*', for wboni there is a feast 
<Iay, which is eeh-brated by masses at the cliureh, and aftenvards by 
;;anies and dances. A procession is always aiTanp^ed on this day, in 
which a little }!;iv\, dressed as an iniajie, rides in a wa^ron, decorated 
with banners and flowei-s. Men in costumes of Indians lejwl the way, 
followed by othei-s clad as Moors. A band is a necessary adjunct, and 
brin^;in>j up the rear are the inhabitants, marchin}; and sinjjinf; to the 
music of the band. When the church is reacluNl, tJie pcH)ple gather 
about the child, and she i-ecites a composition written for the occa- 
sion. 

Dui'injx cai-irnal time, processions (')f niountehaiiks, c-avaliers, 
dressed as knij;hts of old, on horses splendidly adorned, race.s, 
mas(|ues, balls and all manner of rcncdric^s are iuduljied in. 

Danciui,^ is a universal accomi)lisliinent, in which the younjj; and 
old llnd enjoyment in all i)laces and at all seasons. The Zapato, a 
dance peculiar to (^iba, is performed to the music of the <;uitar, accom- 
jiaiiied by the voices of the dancers. It consists of fantastic posiups, 
fancy marclics, and firaceful fijiures, and resembles in some details 
llic "cake walks" of the nej^rocs <if our own country. 

An Island Farm. 

Ill till- iici^lihorliiKid (if I he lai'iicr cides are hiuidi-cds of "Estan- 
cias," which correspond to what ai"e known as market jjardens in the 
rnite<l States. These farms usually consist of less than a hundred 
acres each, and on them are raised vcfjetables, chickens, small fruits 
and oilier table delicacies, for the city trade. Properly looked after, 
this business mi};lit be one of <ji-eat prolit, but the land is, a« a rule, 
cullivaled by tenants, who [»ay a rental of about live dollars per acre 
a year, and who are Ion iiiiiulciii to ^ive it the care necessary to f^ain 
lucrative return.s. 

The pnncipai ve};etable rai.sed <in tlii-se farms is the sweet potato, 
of whiih there ;ti'e two varieties, (lie yellnw and the white. The soil 
and the climate are imi favorable to tin- cultivation of the Irish po- 
tato, and it is necessary to imiMirt (his luxury, wliidi accounts for the 
fact that (hey are seldimi seen outside the cities. 

riaii(ains ari' raised in larj^n- (|iiaiitilies. Tliis |)ro(liicl is to the 



THE CUBANS AND HOW THEY LIVE. 95 

Cuban what broad is to us, ami may be characterized a.s tlie standard 
ai'title of food. Though less nutritious than wheat or potatoes, it is 
produced in vastly larger quantities from the same area, and with, far 
less effort. It closely resembles the banana, and is in fact often re- 
garded as a variety of that fruit. A fanciful name for it among the 
natives is "Adam's ajyple," and the stoiy is that it was the forbidden 
fruit of the Garden of Eden. 

On a number of these places the business of farming lias been 
entirely abandoned, and kilns built, where the burning of lime is car- 
ried on extensively. 

Cattle Bandies and Stock Farms. 

The raising of cattle is one of the important industries of Cuba, 
and as it co.sts comparatively nothing to fit the stocli for the marliet, 
handsome profits are realized. Herds of vast numbers roam over the 
prairies, receiving no attention from their owners, and are sold with- 
out any preliminary fattening. Fabulous prices are received for the 
fierce bulls which, are used for the bull fights in the cities, and the 
breeding of these animals bring-s large returns. 

Hides are one of the principal exports of the island, and bone 
black, prepared froni the bones, is sold in immense quantities to the 
sugar-makers, for use in the manufactui'e of that article. 

The finest horses raised in Cuba come from Puerto Principe, and 
magnificent specimens of the noble animal they are. They are noted 
for their powers of endurance, and can journey day after day, cover- 
ing sixty to seventy miles, at an easy gait, witliout showing signs of 
fatigue. As horses were unknown to the original inhabitants of the 
island, it is supposed that the Cuban horse of to-day comes from Span- 
ish stock, and the fact that it diifers so gTeatly from those animals, 
both in appearance and quality, is explained by the changed climatic 
conditions in its breeding. Whatever its origin may be, it is cei'tain 
that there are no finer sjiecimens of horse flesh than are to be found 
in Cuba, and the natives take great care of them, almost regai'ding 
them as belonging to the faniil3\ Like the Irishman avIio "kept his pig 
in the parlor," the Cuban often stables his horse in a room of his 
house. 



9fi THE 1"1:F5ANS AM) HOW TUEY LIVE. 

Peculiar Funeral Ceremonies. 

One of the strangest customs that is likely to be observed bv the 
tourist iu the interior sections, is the ceremony attendant on the burial 
of the dead. First come snuiU boys, witb white linen gowns over theif 
clothes, short enough to display their ragged tr«)users and dirty shoes. 
A bo3' in the center bears a tall pole, upon the toj) of which is a silver 
cross, partially draix'd, while each of the <)tiH'r boys can-ies a tail can- 
dlestick. 

Beiiinil them comes the priest, in shabby attire, in one hand his 
])raycr book, from which he is chanting fnmi time to time, while in 
till' oilier hand, the sun being hot, he carries an umbrella. Following 
him, a venerable old miin comes tottering along, personating the aco- 
l.Hh, the bell-ringer, the sacristan, or other church dignitary, as may 
be necessary, croning out iu his dreary voice, as he swings the burning 
censor, the second to the chants of the priest. The collin then makes 
its appearance, made of rough boards, but coveri^l with black paper 
muslin, and boriu' upon the shoulders of four villagers, a crowd of 
wht)m, all uncovered, bring uj) the rear. 

Here, as in all oilier Calholic countries, the s]>eclators uiicovcr tlieir 
heads at tiie i)assing of a funeral cortege. At the church ai-e ceremo- 
nies of reading prayer.s, burning candle.s, aud sprinkling the coUin 
with holy water, after which the prie.st goes his way, and the proces- 
sion takes up its line of march for the newly-made grave, in the dilapi- 
<lated and neglected cemetery, where the collin is deposiU'd without 
further ceremony. Ni> females are jiresent during the whole affair. 

A family in mo\irning in Cuba, not only dress in dark <loliics, ujmui 
whith there is no luster, but they keep the windows of the house shut 
for six months. In fact, by an ordinance of the government, it is now 
prohibited to disjilay the corjtse to flu- jiublic through the open win- 
dows, as was formerly done, both windows and doors being now 
reipiiiid to be sliul. 

An Hospitable People. 

The Cuban of I lie heller cla.ss is noled for his hospitality. His door 
is always open to receive whomsoever calls, be he ac(piaintance, friend 
or stranger. There is a place at his table for the visitor at all times, 
willioiil money and without price, and no one ha\'ing the slightest 
claim lo courtesy of this kind nee<l hesilate to accept the invitation. 



THE CUEANS AND HOW THEY LIVE. 97 

There is little travel or communioatiou on the island, so even if the 
guest be an entire stranger, his host Avill feel amply repaid for his hos- 
pitality' by the news the traveler brings from the outside world. There 
is a good old custom among the Danes, that when the first toast is 
drunk, it is to the I'oof of the house which covers everj'one in it, mean- 
ing thereby it is all one family. This same custom might appropri- 
ately be kept up amongst the Cuban planters, for when one takes his 
seat at the table, he is immediately installed as one of the family 
circle. 

Education and Religion. 

Education is woefully backward on the island. In the absence of 
recent statistics it is estimated that not one-tenth of the children 
receive lettered education of any kind, and even among the higher 
classes of society, liberal education is very far from being universally 
diffused. A fe\v literary and scientific men are to be found both in the 
higher and middle ranks, and previous to the revolution, the question 
of public instruction excited some interest among the creole popula- 
tion. 

At Havana is the royal university with a rector and thii'ty profes- 
sors, and medical and law schools, as well as an institution called the 
Koyal College of Havana. There is a similar establishment at Puerto 
Principe, in the eastern interior, and both at Havana and Santiago de 
Cuba there is a college in which the branches of ecclesiastical educa- 
tion are taught, together with the humanities and philosophy. Besides 
this there ai*e several private schools, but these are not accessible to 
the masses. The inhabitants can scarcely be said to have any litera- 
ture, a few daily and weekly journals, under a rigid censorship, sup- 
ply almost all the taste for letters in the island. 

To show how little liberty of opinion the newspapers of Cuba enjoy, 
we quote a decree issued by General Weyler, formerly Qiptain-Gen- 
eral of the island: 

Don ValeriaiK) Weyler y Nicolau, Marquis of Tenerife, governor-general, 
captain-general of the Island of Cuba, and general-in-chief of this army. 

Under the authority of the law of public order, dated the 23rd of 
April, 1870. 

I Order and Command, 

1st. No newspaper shall publish any news concerning the war which 
is not authorized by the staff oflicers. 
7 



98 THE rir.ANS AN1> HOW TllKV LIVE. 

L'lul. Ni'ithiT slijill lie imblisliid au,v tt'k'jj;r;ipliic coiiimuniLalious of a 
[Kilitical eliaracfer without the authoiitv jtiveii hv the secretaiv of the jjov- 
enior ;;enei'al in Havana, or l»y the civil ollitfrs in the other provinces. 

;{rd. It is hereliy forbidden to pulilisli anv editorials, or other articles or 
illustrations, whi<h may directly or indirectly tend to lessen the prestige of 
the mother-country, the army, or the authorities, or to exa}j;t;erate the forces 
and the importance of the insurrection, or in any way to favor the latter, or to 
cause unfounded alarm, or excite the feelin;.:s of the people. 

41 h. The infractions of this decree, not included in Articles tirst and 
sixth of the decree of February Kith last, will make the olTenders liable to 
the penalties named in Article ;{(!, of the law of the 2:{rd of A]>ril, 1870. 

otb. All persons referred to in Article 14 of the IVnal Code of (be 
reninsula, which is in force in this Island, will be held responsible for said 
infractious in the same order as established by the said Article. 

()th. Whenever a newsjiaper has twice incurred the penalty of said 
olTense, and shall j^ive cause for a third penalty, it may be then suiipressed. 

7th. The civil fjovernors are in char<;e of the fultillment of this decree, 
and a;;ainsl their resolutions, which must be always well founded, the inter- 
ested ]iarties may ajipial wiiliiu twenty four jmurs foMowinn their notitica- 
tinn. VALEHIANO WEVLEH. 

Havana, April L'7. IS'.m;. 

Population of the Island. 

( "(inliiflin;^ accounts leiidei' it iin]i(issil)le to arrive at anything lik(? 
a certainty as to the ininiber of iiiliabitanls in ( 'iiha, at (he time of its 
coiKinest, but it. may be estimated at from :{()(»,()0() (o 400,000. Tliore is 
but little doubt, howtnor, that before 1."(I0 (be whole of tiiis popula- 
tion liad disappeared from the island. The tirst census was taken in 
177», wlien the pnj.iilation wa.s 171,(;-Jii. In ITIH it was 272,:i00. 

Owin;;- to (he disdirbed condKioii nf ilic isbiixl, no censii.s of (ho 
inbabitaiits has been (akeij since (ha( of lss7, when (be total popula- 
(inn was l,t;:H,(;S7. Of (his nnmlter, 1,11 1,:{0;{ were whites, and .")20,(5S4 
were of nef^ro blood. These liirtires make (|ues(ionable (be <laim that 
(be war for liber(y is simply an insiirrec(ion of (he e(dored a<^ainst the 
Caucasian race. 



CHAPTER IX. 

HAVANA, TUE METKOrOLLS OP THE ISLAND. 

Havaua and Its Attiaclions for Tuurists — How to Reach Cuba — Description 
of the Harbor of Havana — How the I'roverbial Unhealthfuluess of the 
City May Be Remedied — Characteristics of the Business Quarter — 
Residences and How the People Live — I'arks and Boulevards — Other 
Features of Life in the City . 

In .spite of the littlo em-ourag-ement which American tourists havo 
had for visiting tlie city of Havana, for many years it has been a pop- 
ular j)lace of res"ort for the few who have tined it or have been recom- 
mended to it by their friends. With the attractions it has had during 
Spanish administration, when an air of constraint and suspicion marlced 
the intercourse with everj' American, it will not be suqirising if under 
changed auspices and in an atmosphere of genuine freedom, Americans 
will find it one of the most delightful and easily accessible places possi- 
ble for them to visit. It is not all pleasant, but the unpleasant things 
are sometimes quite as interesting as the pleasant ones. If the traveler 
forms his judgments according to the actual comforts he may obtain, 
lie will be pleased from beginning to end of his stay. If the measure of 
his good opinion is whether or not things are like those to which he is 
accustomed, he will be disappointed, because novelty reigns. But nov- 
elty does not necessarily mean discomfort. 

Havana may be I'eached by a sea voyage of three or four days from 
New York, on any one of several excellent steamers under the American 
flag, and even in winter the latter portion of the voyage will be a pleas- 
ant feature of the journey. Or the path of the American invading squad- 
ron may be followed, and the traveler, after passing through Florida by 
rail, may journey from Tampa by the mail steamers, and touching at 
Key West for a few hours, reach Havana after- a voyage of two nights 
and a day. 

The Florida straits, between Cuba and the Florida keys, which were 
the scene of the fii"st h(Kstilities of the war, are but ninety miles wide, 
and the voyage is made from Key West in a few hours. The current of 

99 



100 HAVANA, THE METROroLlS OF THE ISLAND. 

the j^ulf stivam makes the cliaiiufl a liillc rciuiniscciit of tlu- English 
(.lianiiel, but ouio uiuU'i- the k'e of the Cuban eoast (he water is slill 
and the harbor of the (dd city offers shelter. 

lu tJie days before tiie war, Mono Castle had an added interest to 
the traveler from the fact that behind its frowning guns and under 
the roeks on whieh it was built, were the tells of scores of sad pristuiers, 
some of them for years in the dungeons, whose walls could tell secrets 
like those of the in(]uisition in Spain if they could but speak. Betwet^n 
Morro Castle and its neighbor across the way, La Puuta, the vessels 
steam into that bay, foul with four hiuidred years of Spanish misrule 
and tilth, where three hundred years of the slave trade ceutered, and 
iiitn which the .sewers of a great city poured their filth. Once inside the 
hai'lior, Cabafia Castle frowns from the hills behind Morro, and on the 
o|iposite shore ri.se the buildings of tlu' city it.seif. 

Tlie harbor always has been a bu.sy one, for tlie commerce of the 
island and of the city has been large. In times (»f peace, scores of vessels 
lie at, anchor in the murky waters. The American anch(U-age for mail 
steamers for years has been in the extremest part of the bay from the 
lily of Havana itself, in order to avoid the contagion which was threat- 
ened by a nearer anchorage. Until the Maine was guided to h«'r ill- 
fated stati(m by the harbor master, it had been long since any American 
vessel had stoppe<i in tliat i>art of tiie liarbor. 

Perfect Sanitary Condition Easily Created. 

Tiie shallow harbor of Havana has its entrance from the ocean 
through a channel hardly more than three hundred yards wide, and 
nearly half a mile long, after which it bioadens and ramifies until its 
area becomes several srpiare miles. No fresh water stream, large or 
small, Hows into it to pui-ify the waters. The harbor entrance is so nar- 
row, and the tiiles along that coast iiave so little rise and fall, that the 
level of water in liu' harbor hardly shows jierceptible change day after 
day. 

Tin- resnil of i his is lli;it llic (onslanl iiillow of sewage from tlie gi'eat 
city pouring into the harbor is never dilnled, and tlii-ougli tlie summer 
is simply a festering mass of corruption, fronting the whole sea wall and 
tliMiwiiig a stenili into the air wliich must be breathed by everyoiu' on 
shiiiboard. There is one ]»art of the harbor known as "dead man's hole," 
from which it is said no siiii) has ever sailed aflei- an aneiiorage of more 



HAVANA, THE METROPOLIS OF THE LSLAND. 101 

than one day, without beai-iug the infeetiou of yellow fever anioug its 
crew. 

Along, the shores of this vei-y harbor are great warehouses for the 
sugar and tobacco shipped into the United States by the thousands of 
tons every year. To preserve our national health, our government has 
maintained an expensive marine hospital service and quarantine sys- 
tem along our southern ports which trade with Havana, in addition to 
supporting a marine hospital seiTice under the eminent Dr. Burgess in 
Havana itself. To the rigid enforcement of this system, and the untiring 
vigilance of Dr. Burgess, must be credited the immunity which the 
United States has had from annual epidemics of yellow fever and small- 
pox. 

The guilt of Spain in permitting this shocking condition to continuej 
cannot in any way be palliateil. For four hundred years she has had 
sway in the island, free to work her own will, and drawing millions of 
dollars of surplus revenue out of the grinding taxes she has imposed. 
The installation of a sanitary system of sewage, which should discharge 
into the open sea instead of into this cesspool which lies at the city's feet, 
would have been the first solution of the difficulty. The threat of danger 
would have been finally averted by the expenditure of a few hundred 
thousand dollars, which would open a channel from the further ex- 
tremity of the harbor to the ocean eastward. The distance is but a few 
miles and the engineering problem a simple one. This and the con- 
struction of a jetty northwestward from the point on which Morro 
Castle stands, woiild divert a portion of the current of the noble gulf 
stream into the hai"bor entrance, and the foul pond of to-day would be 
scoured of its filth by a perennial fiood which could never fail. 

Vera Cruz, on the Mexican coast, has proven that it is possible to ex- 
terminate yellow fever, and it is a duty owed to civilization that Havana 
shall follow along the same path. If all other excuses were to be ig- 
nored, the United States for years has had ample cause for intervention 
in Cuban affairs, as a measure of safety to the health of her own citizens, 
as truly as one man may complain to the authorities if his neighbor 
maintains a nuisance in the adjoining yard. 

The Business Quarters of Havana. 

Once anchored in the safest place in the harbor, the mail steamers 
are surrounded without delay by a fleet of peculiar boats of a sort seen 
only in the bay of Havana. For a bit of silver, the traveler is taken 



102 HAVANA. TlIK M KTltc U'Ol.lS (iF TIIK ISl.ANI). 

usluiiv, the jouniey to llic l;uiilin>; staf^c l)i'iii<r a matter of but a few 
moiiu'iits. The journey tJirouf;li the custom house is not a formidable 
one, for unless there is suspicion of some contnibaud <;oods, the customs 
otlicers are nt)t exacting upcm travelers. At the door of the custom 
house, or aduana, wait the cabs, whicii are cheaiier in Havana than in 
any other city of the new world, and they serve as a conveyance to the 
hotels, which are all groui)ed in the same neighborhood. 

The streets through which the traveler passes are picturesiiue, but 
hardly jtractica], from the American jjoint of view. S(rme of tlieni are 
so narrow that carriages cannot pass, and all traffic must go in one 
direct ion. Nearly all of the business streets have awnings extending 
fiiiiii one side to the other, between the roofs, as a protection from the 
tr(»j)ic sun. The sidewalks on some of the most pretentious street;^ are 
not wide enough for three persons to walk abreast, ami on othere two 
cannot pa^ss. On everj* hand one get.s the impression of anti(piity, and 
antiijuity even greater than the four hundred years of Spanisli occu- 
pancy actually measures. Sjianish architecture, however modern it 
may be, sometimes adds to that iiiii»ressioii and one might believe him- 
self, with little stretch of tlu- imauinai imi. In lir in (Jiir of the amii'iil 
cities of the old World. 

The streets are jiaveil with l)locks of granite and other stone, roughly 
cut and conseipiently exceedingly noisy, but ujion these narrow streets 
front some shojis as line as one migiit expect to discover in New Vnik 
or I'iU'is. It is true that they an- not large, but they do not necil to be, 
for nearly all are devoted to specialties, instead of carrying stocks of 
goods of the Aniei-ican divei-sity. 'I'lie (iiie who wants to shr)p -will not 
lack for tcm|)tations. The scjrdinii is aiii|ilc in any line IJial may lie 
name<l, the styles ai'e modei-n and in exipiisite taste, and altogetlicr I he 
shops are a coiisi<lerab!e surinise to one who judges them first from 
the exterior. Sloi-es devoted exclusively to fans, parasols, gloves, laces, 
jewels, bronzes, silks and tJie beanlifn! clolli of ]iinea|>|)li' liber known 
as ni]ie cloth, are an indication of tiie variety that may be found. The 
shoes and other articles of men's and women's clolliing are nearly all 
diiiri ini|iortations from Paris, and where I'ansian styles dominate one 
may be assureil that the seleition is not a. scanty one. Clerks ai'e 
coui'teous evi-n In I lie t radilional point ofCastilian obscnpiionsness, and 
altogetlicr a shopping ex|>edition along this Obispo street is an exju'ri- 
eiice to be remendtered with jth-asure. 



HAVANA, THE METROPOLIS OF THE ISLAND. 103 



Havana Homes. 

You notice that everything is made to serve comfort and coolness. 
Instead of having panes of glass, the windows are open and guarded by 
light iron railings, and the heavy wooden doors are left ajar. You see 
into many houses as you pass along, and very cool and clean they look. 
There are marble floors, cane-seated chairs and lounges, thin lace cur- 
tains, and glimpses of courts in the center of each building, often with 
green jdants or gaudy flowers growing in them between the parlor and 
the kitchen. 

You find much the same plan at your hotel. You may walk in at 
the doors or the dining room windows just as you please, for the sides 
of the house seem capable of being all thrown open; while in the center 
of the building you see the blue sky overhead. Equally cool do all the in- 
habitants appear to be, and the wise man who consults his own comfort 
will do well to follow the general example. Even the soldiers wear 
straw hats. The gentlemen are clad in uudenvear of silk or lisle thread 
and suits of linen, drill or silk, and the ladies are equally coolly ap- 
parelled. 

Havana is a dressy place, and you will be astonished at the neatness 
and style to which the tissue-like goods worn there are made to conform. 

But come and see the apartment you are to rest in every night. Ten 
to one the ceiling is higher than you ever saw one in a private house, and 
the huge windows open upon a balcony overlooking a verdant plaza. 
The floor is of marble or tiling, and the bed is an ornate iron or brass 
affair, with a tightly stretched sheet of canvas or fine wire netting in 
place of the mattress you ai'e used to. You could not sleep on a mat- 
tress with any proper degree of comfort in the tropics. There is a canopy 
with curtains overhead, and everytliing about the room is i)retty certain 
to be scrupulously clean. Conspicuous there and everywluM'e else that 
you go is a rocking chair. Rocking chairs are to be found in tiu^ houses, 
and in regiments in the clubs. 

Havana is the metropolis of the West Indies. It has more life and 
bustle than all the rest of the archipelago put together. If you are 
German, English, Scotch, Dutch, American, French or whatever you 
are, you will find fellow counti'ymen among its 250,000 souls. There is 
a public spirit there which is rare in these climes. The theaters a.stonish 
you by their size and elegance. The ai'istocratic club is the Union, but 



104 HAVANA, Till-: METHUl'OLIS OF THE ISLAND. 

the pdpular one is the Casino Espanol, whose club house is a marvel of 
tropical ele<;auce and beaut}'. Nearlj- all these attractions are on or 
m-ar the broad, shad}- and iniposinj^ thoroughfare, the Prado — a suc- 
cession of i>arks leading; from the wati-r npjxisite Morro Castle almost 
across the city. 

In one or another of these parks u niilitaiy band plays on three 
eveninjifs of the week, ajid the scene on such occasions is wholly new to 
Kn;^Iish eyes. It is at such times that one may see the beautiful Spanish 
and Cuban women. They do n«)t leave thc^ir houses in the heat of tlie 
day unless something requires them to do so, and when they do they 
remain in their cari'iages, and are accompanietl by a servjtnt or an elder- 
ly companion. So strict is the privacy with which they are surrounded 
that you shall see them shopping without quitting their carriages, 
waite<l on by the clerks, wlio bring tlie goods out to the vehicles. 

But when there is music under the laurels or palms the senoritas, 
in their light drai)cries, and wearing nothing on their heads save 
the i)ictures()ue mantiihi of Ohl Spain, assemble on the path.s, the seats, 
the sidewalks and in tlieir earriages, and tliere the masculine element 
refNiirs and is very gallant, indeed. 

Ilereyouwiil listen to the dreamy melody of tiiese lalilii(les,Spanish 
love songs and Cuban waltzes so softly juetty that you wonder all the 
world does not sing and play them. On other nights the walk or drive 
along the Prado is very interesting. You pass some of the most elegant 
<if file hou.s(>s, and notice that they are two stories high, and that the 
family a]>ai1ments are on the upper stories, so that y<»u miss the furtive 
views of the families at meals and of the ladies recliidng in the broad- 
tiled window sills that y(»u have in the older (tne-story sections of the 
(it v. 



CHAPTER X. 

THE CITIES OF CUBA. 

The Harbor of Matanzas— Sports of the Carnival — Santiago de Cuba and Its 
Beautiful Bay — Cardiuas, the Commercial Center — Enormous Exports 
of Sugar — The Beauties of Trinidad — Other Cities of Importance. 

The city of Havana may be said to stand in the same relation to 
Cuba that Paris does to France, for in it are centered the culture, the 
refinement, and the wealth of the island, but there are several other 
towns of considerable importance, and many of them have become 
places of interest since the struggle for liberty has attracted the atten- 
tion of the civilized world. 

Chief among these is Matanzas. This city, with a normal popula- 
tion of about 00,000, is situated fifty miles east of Havana, with which it 
is connected by rail and water. Its shipping interests are second only 
to those of the capital, as it is the outlet of many of the richest agricul- 
tural districts of the island. 

The city is situated on the flats on both sides of the San Juan river, 
which brings down large quantities of mud and greatly impedes inland 
navigation. As an offset the bay is spacious, easy of access and shel- 
tered from the violent gulf storms which prevail at some seasons. This 
makes the port a favorite with marine men. A large amount of money 
has been spent by the government to fortify and protect the city, and it 
has been connected by rail with all the principal towns and producing 
centers of the provinces. Thus it is a particularly favorite port of entry 
for all the supplies required in the plantations — food stajiles and ma- 
chinery. Its exports consist principally of sugar, coffee, molasses, to- 
bacco, honey, wax and fmits. 

The city is built principally' of masonry and in a most substantial 
manner, though little effort has been made to secure architectural 
beauty. The pride of the city is the new theater, which is pointed out 
as the handsomest building in Cuba. The Empresa Academy also takes 
rank equal with any for the excellence of its educational facilities. 

There is no more charming spot in Cuba than Matanzas. The bay 

105 



106 THE CITIES <)F (UHA. 

is like a crescent in shape, jiml receives the witters of the I'umuri and 
Matauzas rivers, two small uuuavigable streams. A high bridge sepa- 
rates them. On this ridge back of the town stiiuds a catheilral dedicated 
to the bhick virgin. It is a reproduction of a cathedral in the Balearic 
Islands. The view from its steeple is magnitiient. Looking backward 
the valley of the Yiimuri stretches to the right. It is about ten miles 
wide and sixty miles long, dcttted with palms, and as level as a barn 
lloor. The Yumuri breaks through the mountiiius near Matanzas bay 
something like the Arkansas river at Canon City. (\ir[>eti'd witli living 
green and surrouiiticd witli iriniiiilaiiis this valley is mii' cpf ihc gems of 
Cuba. 

About ten miles from Matanzas, on the left of the road, stand what 
are known as the Breadloaf Mountains. They rise from the plain like 
the Spanish peaks in Colorado. These mountiiins are the headquarters 
of Cieiieral BetancouH, who commands the insurgents in the province. 
Tlie Sjianiards have olTered ?1,()(I0 reward for his head. Several efforts 
have been made to secure it. Imi in ;ill cases the would-be captoi- has lost 
his own head. 

In accordance with the Weyler edict 11,000 reconcentrados were 
herded t<igether at .Malanza.s, and within a year over 0,000 of them dieil 
in the city. In the Plaza, under the shadow of the (lovernor's residence, 
twenly-thrt^e peojde died from starvatitm in one day. The province of 
Matanzas is not larger in area than the state'of Delaware, yet r).">,0(Mi 
people have jx-nshed from starvation antl incident disea.ses since the 
order went into efTect. 

But all the people of Matanzas are not reconcentrados, and even 
in tlie midst of war's alarms they tind time for amusement, as the fol- 
Inwing ilescription of a carnival liall will prove: 

"It was our good fortune to be in .Matanzas during the last three 
days of (he Carnival; and while the whole time was occupieil !)y noisy 
processiiius and gitites(|ue street mas(|ueraders, the crowning cere- 
innnies were (in the last Sunday night. Then the whole town used every 
elTiiit to wiml up (he season in a 'feu de joie' of pleasure and amusement. 
In almost everv (own of any impoilance there is an associnlion df young 
men, generally known as 'Kl Liceo,' oiganized for artistic and literary 
purposes, and for social recreation. A line large building is generally 
occupied by the association, with ample sjiace for theatncal representa- 
ti(»ns, balls, etc.; in addition (o which there are billiard ro(tms, and read- 
ing rnimis, adorned, probably witli fine iiaintings. In Matiinzas (his 



THE CITIES OF CUBA. 107 

association is IcTiown as 'EI Liceo Artistico y Literario de Matanzas,' 
and is a pai-tieularly fine one, being composed of the elite of the city, 
with a fine large honse, to which they made an addition by pnrchasing 
the 'Club,' beautifully situated upon the Plaza. 

"Thanks to our letter of introduction, we were, through the kind 
offices of the members, permitted to enjoy the pleasui'es of their grand 
ball, called the 'Pinata,' which was indeed a very grand affair, attended 
by the beauty and fashion of Matanzas. The ball commenced at the 
seasonable hour of 8 o'clock in the evening; and at entering, each one 
was required to give up his ticket to a committee of managers, who thus 
had a kind of general inspection of all those admitted. 

"The ball room was a long, large hall, at the other end of which 
was a pretty stage for theatrical representations; on each side of the 
room was an arched colonnade, over which were the galleries, where 
the band was posted. Ranged in double rows of chairs the full length 
of the room in front of the colonnade, sat hundreds of dark-eyed angels, 
calm, dignified, and appearing, most of them, to be mere lookers on; 
not a black coat among them. All of these, with the exception of a few 
courageous ones that were facing all this beauty, were huddled to- 
gether at the other end of the room, wanting the courage (it could not 
be the inclination) to pay their respects to 'las Senoritas.' 

"What is exactly the trouble in Cuba between the gentlemen and 
the ladies I never have been able to quite understand. The men are 
polished and gentlemanly, as a general thing — sufficiently intelligent, 
apparently; while the ladies are dignified and pretty. And yet I have 
never seen that appearance of easy and pleasant intercourse between the 
sexes which makes our society so charming. 

"I am inclined to believe that it is the fault of custom, in a great 
degree, which surrounds women in Cuba with etiquette, iron bars and 
formality. This would seem to apply to the natives only, for nothing 
can be kinder, more friendly and courteous than the manners of the 
Cuban ladies to strangers, at least, judging from what is seen. It may 
be as a lady with whom I was arguing the point said: 'It is very differ- 
ent with strangers, Senor, and particularly with the Americans, who 
are celebrated for their chivalric gallantry to ladies.' Now I call that a 
very pretty national compliment 

"Taking the arm of my friend, we walk up and down to see, as he 
expresses it, 'who there is to be presented to,' and faith, if beauty is to 
be the test, it would seem to be a hard matter to make up one's mind. 



108 THE CITIES OF Cl'DA. 

there is so iinuli of it, but after a turn or two around the room, tliis 
form is {jone tlirou^li witli, au<l one liej^nns to feel at lionie and readv to 
eujoy one's self. 

"When one tiuds ladies (and there are numbers) who have been edu- 
cated abroad, either in the T'uited States or Europe, he tiuds them 
highly aeeoniplisheil and entertainin<;. Several that I had the pleasure 
of meetinj; on this ami other occasions spoke French perfectly, some 
Enjilish, and one or two both of these in addition to their native ton<i;ue. 

"But let us return to the ball, which is all the time going on with 
great eclat. It opens with the advent ui)on the stage of a dozen or more 
young men, under the direction of a leader, in some fancy costume very 
handsomely made, who, after making their bow to the audience, go 
through some novel kind of a dance. The performers take this means 
of tilling up the intervals of the general dance, and amusing the audi- 
ence. 

"It is now getting late, and tiie rooms are teiiihly warm. The fans 
of the long rows of lovely sitters, who have not moved out of their jjlaces 
the whole evening.keep up a constant tlutter, and one begins to sigh for a 
breath of fresh air, and relief frmii ilic disccmiforts of a full dress suit. 
lUit the grand affair <if the evening is yet to come off, we are told, so 
we linger on, and are finally rewarded bj' the grand ceremony of the 
'IMnata,' from which the hall takes its name. This word I can hardly 
give the meaning of as applied to this ceremcmy, which c<insists in 
iiaving pendent from the ceiling a form of ribbands and llowers, the rib- 
bands numbered and hanging from the llowers, the rights to ])ull which 
are drawn like jirizes in a lottery. Of tlies(» ribbands, one is fastened 
to a beautiful crown of flowers, which, when the ribband to which it is 
attached is pulli-d, falls into the hands of the luc ky jiersoii, who has the 
privilege of crowning any lady he may deem worthy of the honor '(^ueeu 
<if the Hall,' to whom every one is ohiigcd to yield (d)edience, homage, 
and admiration. There is, also, the same o]>port unity afforded to the 
ladies to crown a king. The whole ceremony is pretty, and creates 
much merriment and atnusement. 

"This ceremony over, at mirlnight we sally out inlo liic open air. 
15ut what a sight greets us there! Lights blaze in such profusion that 
it seems more than day. Mtisic and dancing iire everywhere. Songs 
an<l mirth have taken com])lete ])ossession of the place, while j)eople of 
all ages, se.ves and colors are mixe(l together, in what seems inextricable 
confusion, intent upon having a good time in the open air while their 



THE CITIES OF CUBA. 109 

masters and betters are doing the same tliinf:; nnder cover. This is a 
earnival sight indeeil, and only to be seen in a tropical clime." 

Guantanamo, the Home of the Pirates. 

Approaching Cuba as Columbus did— across the narrow stretch of 
sea from San Domingo — you first sight the long, low promontory of the 
eastern tip, which the discoverer named Point Maysi. So different is 
the prospect from that seen at the other end of the island, as you come 
down in the usual route from New York or Florida, that you can hardly 
believe it is the same small country. From Maysi Point the land rises 
in sharp terraces, backed by high hills and higher mountains, all so 
vague in mist and cloud that you do not know where land ends and sky 
begins. Coming nearer, gray ridges are evolved, which look like cowled 
monks peering over each other's shoulders, with here and there a 
majestic peak toweling far above his fellows — like the Pico Turquino, 
11,000 feet above the sea. Sailing westward along this south shore, the 
"Queen of the Antilles" looks desolate and forbidding, as compared to 
other portions of the West Indies; a panorama of wild heights and 
sterile shores, and surge-beaten cliffs covered with screaming sea birds. 
At rare iutei-vals an opening in the rock-bound coast betrays a tiny 
harbor, bordered by cocoa palms, so guarded and concealed by hills, and 
its sudden revelation, when close upon it, astonishes you as it did the 
first explorer. 

According to tradition, everyone of these was once a pirate's lair, in 
the good old days we read about, when "long, low, suspicious-looking 
craft, with raking masts," used to steal out from sheltered coves to 
plunder the unwary. Each little bay, whose existence was unknown 
to honest mariners, has a high wooded point near its entrance, where the 
sea robbers kept perpetual watch for passing merchantmen and treas- 
ure-laden galleons, their own swift-sailing vessels safe out of sight 
within the cove; and then, at a given signal out they would dart upon 
the unsuspecting prey like a spider from his web. Among the most 
notorious piratical rendezvous was Gauntanamo, which our warships 
are said to have shelled two or three times of late. In recent years its 
naiTow bay, branching far inland like a river, has become of consider- 
able consequence, by reason of a railway which connects it with Santi- 
ago, and also because the patriot army, hidden in the nearby mountains, 
have entertained hopes of overcoming the Spanish garrison and making 



110 TlIK (ITIKS (»F < ri!A. 

it a base for ivccIn inj:; outsiilc assistance. Before tlie war there wefO 
extensive snjiar plantations in tliis city, now all devastatetl. The Cobfo 
mountains, looininj;- darkly against the hctrizon, are the great copper and 
iron range of Cuba, said to contain untold mineral wealth, waiting to 
be develope<l by Yankee enterprise. In earlier days .*!4,0(IO,0(IO a year 
was the average value of Cuba's copjier and iron exports; but in ISCiT 
(■(, (100,000 tons were taken out in less than ten months. Then Spain put 
her foot in it, as usual. Not ccuitent with the lion's share, which she bad 
alway.s realized in exorbitant taxes on the product, she increased the 
excise charges to such au extent a.s to kill the industry outright. For 
a long time afterward the ore lay undisturbed in the (\tbre "pockets," 
until the attention of Americans was turned this way. Their first 
iron ami copper claims in these mountains were recognized by the 
Cuban government about seventeen years ago. Three Yankee corpora- 
tions have developed rich tracts of mining territory hereabouts, built 
railways from the coa.st to their works on the hills and exported ore to 
the Cnited States. The oldest of these contpanies employed 2,000 men, 
and had 1,(!((0 cars an<l a lleet of twenty steanu'rs for the transportation 
<tf its oiil|iut. The Carnegie Coinjiany, whose product was shipped to 
l'hii:i(Ii-]|ihia, also employed upwards of a thousand men. 

Santiago dc Cuba. 

Ai hisl an alii'iipi ii iiiiinaiidM of the slern, gray clilTs whicii marlc 
I his shiuc line iiidiiatcs I he proximity of Santiago harbor, and a nearer 
approaih reveals the most pictiires(|ue foil or castle, as well as one of 
the oldest, to be found on the western hemis])liere. An emirmous 
rounding rock, whose base has been hollowed into great caverns by the 
restless Caribbean, standing just at the entrance of the narrow channel 
leading into the harbor, is carried up from the water's edge in a suc- 
ression of walls, rampart.s, towers and turrets, forming a perfect i)icture 
(if a lock-ribbed fortress of the midille ages. This is the famous castle 
of ."^an .lago, the Moro, whicli .inledales the more familiar fortress of the 
same name in Havana harboi- by at least a hundred years. Words are 
of little use in describing this anti(iue, Moorish lo(d;ing stronghohl, with 
its crundding, honeycombed battlements, (pieer little flanking turrets 
and siiadowy towers, jwrched U|mn tiie face of a dun-colored cliff IHO 
feel idgh-so old, so odil, so diffi rent from anything in Anu'rica with 
which to comjiare it. A idiotograi)!), or iM-iicil ski-tch is not much bet- 



THE CITIES OF CUBA. Ill 

in; aud even a paiut brush could not i-eproduoe the exact shadings of 
its time-worn, weather-mellowed walls — the Oriental pinks and old 
blues and predominating yellows that give it half its charm. Upon the 
lowermost wall, directly overhanging the sea, is a dome-shaped sentry 
box of stone, flanked by antiquated cannon. Above it the lines of 
nuisonry are sharply drawn, each guarded teiTace receiling upon the one 
next higher, all set with cannon and dominated by a massive tower of 
obsolete construction. 

It takes a good while to see it all, for new stories and stair- 
ways, wings and terraces, are constantly cropping out in un- 
expected places, but as it occupies three sides of the rounding 
cliff and the pilot who comes aboard at the entrance to the chan- 
nel guides your steamer close up under the frowning battlements, 
yon have ample time to study it. Window holes cut into rock in all 
directions show how extensive are the excavations. A large gaiTisou is 
always (juartered here, even in time of peace, Avheu their sole business 
is searching for shady places along the walls against which to lean. 
There are ranges above ranges of walks, connected by staii'ways cut into 
the solid rock, each range covered with lolling soldiers. You pass so 
near that you can hear them chattering together. Those on the topmost 
parapet, dangling their blue woolen legs over, are so high and so directly 
overhead that they remind you of flies on the ceiling. 

In various places small niches have been excavateil in the cliff, some 
with crucifixes, or figures of saints, and in other places the bare, un- 
broken wall of rock runs up, sheer straight 100 feet. Below, on the 
ocean side, are caves, deep, dark and uncanny, worn deep into the rock. 
Some of them are so extensive that they have not been explored in gen- 
erations. 

The broad and lofty enti-ances to one of them, hollowed by the 
encroaching sea, is as perfect an arch as could be drawn by a skillful 
architect, and with it a tradition is connected which dates back a couple 
• if centuries. A story or two above these wave-eaten caverns are many 
small windows, each heavily barred with iron. They are dungeons dug 
iuto the solid rock, and over them might well be written, "Leave hope 
behind, ye who enter here!" A crowd of haggard, pallid faces are 
pressed against the bars; and as you steam slowly by, so close that you 
might speak to the wretched prisoners, it seems as if a shadow had sud- 
denly fallen upon the bright sunshine, and a chill, like that of coming 
death, oppivsses the heart. Since time out of mind, the Moro of Santi- 



11-3 TIIK CITIKS (»F crr.A. 

a;i() lias fiirnis^lied dunjjoons for tlioso who have incurrod the disploasuro 
of the goveruiut'Ut iutiuitcly more to be dreaded than its miuiesake in 
Havana. llad these slimy walls a tongue, what stories they might 
reveal of crime and suffering, of tortures nobly undergone, of dealli 
prolonged through dragging years and murders that will not "out" 
until the judgment day. 

Against that old tower, a »iuarttr of a century ago our ronntry- 
men of the A'irginius were bntciicred like siieei). Stores of later patriots 
have been led out upon the ramparts and shot, their bmlies, perhaps, 
with life yet in them, falling into tiie sea, where they were snapiicd u\> 
by sharks as soon as tliey touiiied the water. 

The narrow, winding channel which leads from the open sea into 
tlic harbor, pursues its sinuous course past several other fortifications 
of <]uaint construction, but of little use against modeni guns — between 
low hills and broad meadows, fishing hamlets and cocoanut groves. 
I'resenfly you tuni a shaiT) angle in flie hills and enter a broad, land- 
locked bay, inclose<l on every side by ranges of hills with numerous 
points and j)romontorics jutting into tlie lranf]nil water, leaving deei) 
little coves behind fliem, all fringed with cocoa-jtalms. Between this 
blue bay and a lowering background of jturple mountains lies the city 
which Diego Velaztiucz, its founder, christemnl in honor of the patron 
saint of Spain, as far back as the year 1514. It is the oldest standing 
city in the new world, excepting Santo l)t)mingo, wliii li ("dlnnibus him- 
self establisluHl only eighteen years earlier. ]{y th( way, San Jago, 
San Diego and Santiago, are really the same name, rendered Saint 
•lames in our language; and win rever the Spaniards have been are num- 
bers of them. This parliriil.ir city nf .^nin) .lames occu])ies a sloping 
hillside, (KKI miles southeast from Havana, itself the capital of a depart- 
ment, and ranks the third city of Cuba in conunercial imporlanct^ — 
.Matanzas being se<-ond. As usmil in all these southern ])orls, the water 
is too shallow for large vessels to approach the dock and sleam<'rs 
have to anchor a mile from shore. While wailing Ihe coining of lieall li 
or customs oHicials, these lordly gentlemen who are never given to un 
digiutied haste, you have amjtle time to admir<> the prospect, and if the 
truth must be tidd, you will do we)l to turn about without going ashore, 
if you wish to retain the first delightful impressions — for this old city 
of Spain's patron saint is f)ne of the many to wlii<h <lis1ance lends en- 
chantment. 

i:i-droi.fed buildings of stone and adobe entirely covci- the hillside. 



THE CITIES OF CUBA. 113 

with here and there a dome, a tower, a church steeple shooting upward, 
or a tall palm poking its head above a garden wall — the glittering green 
contrasting well with the ruddy tiles and the pink, gray, blue and yel- 
low of the painted walls. In the golden light of a tropical morning it 
looks like an oriental town, between sapphire sea and turquoise moun- 
tains. Its low massive buildings, whose walls surround open courts, 
with pillared balconies and corridors, the great open windows protected 
by iron bars instead of glass, and roofs covered with earthen tiles — are 
a direct importation from Southern Spain, if not from further east, Tan- 
giers, in Africa, is built upon a similar sloping hillside, and that capital 
of Morocco does not look a bit more Moorish than Santiago de Cuba, On, 
the narrow strip of land boitlering the eastern edge of the harbor, the 
Moro at one end and the city at the other, are some villas, embowered 
in groves and gardens, which, we are told, belong mostly to Americans 
Mho are interested in the Cobre mines. The great iron piers on the right 
belong to the American mining companies, built for loading ore upon 
their ships. 

Cardinas. 

Fifty miles east of Matanzas is the city of Cardinas, the last port 
of any consequence on the north coast of the island. It has a popula- 
tion of 25,000, and is the capital of a fertile district. It is one of the 
main outlets of Cuba's richest province, Matanzas, and is the great rail- 
road center of the island, or, more properly speaking, it ought to be, 
as the railroads of the counti-y form a junction fifteen miles inland, at 
an insignificant station called Jouvellenes. 

In time of peace Cardinas enjoys a thriving business, particularly 
in sugar and molasses, its exports of the former sometimes amounting 
to 100,000 tons a year. To the west and south stretch the great sugar 
estates which have made this section of Spain's domain a. prize to be 
fought for. The water side of the town is faced with long wharves and 
lined with warehouses, and its extensive railway depot would do credit 
to any metrojjolis. 

There are a few pretentious public buildings, including the customs 
house, hospital and college. Its cobble paved. streets are considerably 
wider than those of Havana, and have two lines of horse cars. There 
is gas and electric light, and more two-story houses than one is accus- 
tomed to see on the island. 

But, notwithstanding the broad, blue bay in front, and the Paseo, 



114 THE CITIKS OF CriJA. 

whose tall trees seem to be touching finger tips across the road, con- 
gratulating each other on the presence of eternal summer, Cardiuas is 
not an attractive town. One misses the glamor of antiquity and his- 
toric interest which pervades Havana, Matanzas and Santiago, aud feels 
somehow that the town is new without being modem, young but not 
youtliful. 

Other Cities of Importance. 

Puerto Priucijje, or to give it its full uanie in the ►Spanish tongue, 
Santa Maria de Puerto Pnncipe, is the capital of the Central depart- 
ment, and is situated about midway between the north and south coasts, 
305 miles southea.st of Havana, and forty-five miles southwest of Nue- 
vitas, its port, with which it is connected by railroad. Its ])opulation 
is about .■]0,000 and it is surrounded by a rich agncultural district, the 
chief i)roducts of which are sugar and tobacco. The climate is hot, 
moist aud unhealthy. It was at one tinu^ the seat of the supreme court 
of all the Spanish ccdouies in Anu>ri( a. 

One of the most attractive cities of ( "uba is Trinidad, wliich lies near 
the south coast, three miles by rail from the port of Casildas. It is 
beautifully situated on high laud overlooking the sea, and on account of 
its mild and very equable climate it is a favorite resoxt for tourists and 
invalids. 

Nuevitas, Sancti Espiiitu, ISararoa and Cienfuegos are all centers 
of pojuilation with many natural advantages, and with a ju.st form of 
government, and the advent of American enterpri.se and capital, they 
might become pro.s])erous, attractive, and of great commerical import- 
ance. 



CHAPTER XL 

MUTTEKIXGS OF I>s'SURKECTION. 

Slavery in Cuba — Horrible Tortures Inflicted — The Conspiracy of Lopez — 
The United States Interferes — Lopez Captured and Executed — Seizure 
of American Ships — Our Government Demands and Secures Indemnity 
From Spain — Enormous Salaries of Cuban Officials — Oppressive Taxa- 
tion. 

Slavery was a demoralizing influence to Cuba as it has been to 
every other country in which the system has existeil, and to its pres- 
ence was traced one of the most sensational episodes in all the sensa- 
tional histoi-y of the unhappy island. It is impossible to know to what 
extent the suspected insurrection of slaves on the sugar plantations 
about Matanzas was an actual threat. So horrible were the charges 
made hj the accusers that it is almost impossible to believe them. At 
any rate, such an insurrection was anticipated, and the authorities 
took measures to crush it out, more severe than any such govern- 
mental movement has been since the days of the Spanish Inquisition 
itself. It was impossible to obtain witnesses by ordinaiw methods, so 
the most shocking forms of torture were employed. Those who refused 
to confess whatever charges happened to be brought against them 
were tortured till they did confess, and then probably- executed for 
the crimes which they admitted under such circumstances. By such 
"judicial" processes, 1,340 persons were convicted, of whom seventy- 
eight were shot and the others punished less severely in various ways. 
Hundreds of others died from the tortures to which they were sub- 
jected, or in the foul prisons in which they were confined, and of these 
we have no record. Of those convicted and punisheil under the alleged 
forms of law, fourteen were white, 1,242 were free negroes, and fifty- 
nine were slaves. The negroes of Cuba have never forgotten the bar- 
barities to which their jiarents were subjected in that trying year. 

The most notable outbreak of Cuban insurrectionary forces prior 
to that of the Ten Years' war, which began in 1SG8, was that known 
as the conspiracy of Lopez. 

115 



IKi MLTTKKINGS OF lNSl"I{Ki;<TI( )X. 

As earlv as May, 1S47, Xarcisso Lcjpcz aud a iiunibcr of bis asso- 
ciates who Lad planned an in.snnection in the central part of the 
island, were pursued to the Uuitetl States by Spanish agents, who had 
kept track of their conspiracy. The Lone Stai- Society was in close 
sympathy with tJiese refugees, and to a certain extent tlie two were 
co-existent. Lopez, in 1S49, organized a military expedition to invade 
Cuba. By the exertions of the otlicers of the United States govern- 
ment the sailing of the expedition was prevented. Kotwithstauding 
the activity of the government, however, Lopez, in the following year, 
got together a force of GOO men outside of the United States, shipped 
arms and ammunition to them from this country, and on May 19, 
1850, made a landing at Cardenas. 

The United States authorities had put tlie Spanish government in 
Cuba on the alert for tliis expedition, rrcsidcnt Taylor had issued a 
proclamation warning all citizens of the Unittnl States not to take 
part in such an exjK'dition or to assist it in any way. The exptMlition 
was driven out to sea from (^ardenas a few days after it landed, sailed 
for Key West, and tliere disbanded. Meantime there were a number 
of uprisings in the island between gn(Ui)S of unhappy natives who had 
not the wisdom to co-operate in tiie t'lTorl to resist tlie oppressive hand 
of the SjKiniards. 

In August of 1S.")1, Lopez eluded tlie Uiiilcd Slates autliorities at 
the port of New Orleans, and sailed out into the (lulf of Mexico with 
an expedition 4r)0 strong, llis lieutenant on this expedition was a 
Colonel Criltendeii, a native of the Stale of Kenlucky. They landed 
near IJahia Honda, about thirty miles west of Havana, and found tlur 
government forces waiting for iImiii. Colonel Crittenden, with a sub- 
division of L">0 men, was compelled to surrender, and the rest were 
scattered. Lojiez, with lifly ollieps, was captured, lakeii to Havana. 
and there execuU'd. 

'llie circumstances attending the Lopez failure, and several Span- 
ish outiages against American citizens and ve.s.sels, aroused deep feel- 
ing in the United States, and the sentiment was growing rajiidly that 
it was a national duty to our own jieace, to do something that would 
nuike the troublesome m-ighbor a pleasant one. It was tifty jears 
before action was taken, but. once begun, it was well done. 

It was in ISIS, juior to the Lopez invasion, that President Polk 
made the first approaihes to tin- Spanish government with a sugges- 
tion to ]»urclia.se the islaml for .*;1 01 1,1 100,000, but was refused with 



MUTTERINGS OF tNSUKRECTION. 117 

scant consideration. A few years later came tlie succession of attacks 
on American mercliaut vessels by Spanish ships of war, on the pre- 
text that the intercepted craft were in filibuster service. Some of 
these were fired on, and the American mail bags opened, the steam- 
ships Falcon and Crescent ttty being in this list. The most flagrant 
case was that of the Black Warrior, a large steamer in coasting trade 
between New York and Mobile. In February, 1850, while in the har- 
bor of Havana, she was stopped, her cargo confiscated, and a fine of 
twice its value declared. Her captain hauled down the colors, and 
taking them with him, left the vessel as a Spanish capture. After five 
years of "diplomacy," Spain paid an indemnity of $300,000 for the out- 
rage. 

It was in 1852 that the governments of Great Britain and France 
tried to draw the United States into an agreement on the question of 
Cuba, which was happily refused on genuinely American groumls. It 
was suggested that all the parties should be bound not to accpiire 
Cuba themselves, nor to permit any other power to do so. Our gov- 
ernment gave the proposal respectful consideration, but declined to 
enter into any such arrangement, on the ground that we prefer to 
avoid entangling foreign alliances, that it would be unwise, if not 
unconstitutional, to tie our hands for the future regardless of what 
might happen, and that on geographical grounds, while England and 
Finance were making vei"j' slight concessions, we were asked to make 
a very imj)oi"tant one. 

The United States came as near to the purchase of Cuba in 1854 
as it ever was, but Sixain gave the plan little encouragement. Three 
American ministers to European countries, Messrs. Buchanan, Mason 
and Soule, met at Ostend and fonnulated a plan for the purchase, sign- 
ing and issuing what came to be known as the 0.stend manifesto. 
They recommended the purchase of the island for $120,000,000, and 
tbat in no event should it be allowed to come under the power of any 
other European government than the one by which it was held. At 
this time, and aftei-v^-ard, while filibustering expeditions were fi'e- 
quent and disorder constantly threatening in Cuba, the subject of the 
acquisition of Cuba was discussed in Cimgress, but no headway was 
made in the matter. At last, conditions in the island became intol- 
erable to the patriots there, and the Ten Years' war began. 

It is necessaiw at this point to relate some of the causes of the fre- 
quent disorders and uprisings in the island of Cuba. Some of the 



118 MUTTKRIXGS OP INSURRErTION. 

features of Spanish misgovernment in the eolony have been named, 
but the catah)gue is far from compk^e. 

The most judicial writers, however bitterly they condemn Spain, 
admit that that peninsular kingdom has itself suffered and that the 
people have suffei"(Hl almost beyond endurance themselves. Cuba is 
not the only land with whicli we may share a little of our symi)athy. 
But sympathy for Si)ain must come from other things than oppressi(m 
from without, ller opi)ression is within her own borders, and her 
authorities have tried to sliift the burden of it to the colonists across 
the sea. The debt of Spain has reached enormous proportions, and 
having fallen from her high estate as a commercial nation, it has 
become impossible for the great interest charges on her floating debt 
to be paid by ordinary and correct methods. Says one writer: "To 
pay the interest necessitates the most grinding oppression. The mov- 
ing impulse is not malice, but the greed of the famishing; and 
oppressor and oj)i)r('ssed alike are the objects for sympathy." 

The annual revenue raised in the island of Cuba had reached 
nearly i?2(;,()(l(),()(»0 by the time of the outbreak of the Ten Years' war, 
and preparations were in progress for largely increasing the exac- 
tions. The large revenue raised was expended in ways to irritate the 
('ubans or any one el.se who had to help pay it. Tlie annual salary of 
the captain general was .*;.")n,000, when the president of the Tniled 
States was getting only .?2r),000 a year. Each provincial governor in 
Cuba got a salary of §12,000, while the prime minister of Spain 
received only half that. 

The bisho]) of Havana and the arrliliislKi]) of Santiago de Cuba 
each received a salary of iJlSjttOO. All odiccs, civil, military and eccle- 
siastical, )vere productive of I'ich pi'npiisites, I'xcept in those cases 
where stealing was siiajder. Wliolesale coiTUjition in the custom 
houses was gencially known and admitted by all. The thefts in the 
custom houses in Havana wa.s estimated at forty pci' cent, and in 
Sautiago at seventy jier cent of the entire revenue. Ail ollices except 
the very lowest, in ( hincli aiul state alike, were filled by men sent 
from Si)ain, with the frank understanding that as soon as he could, 
each new apjiointee could ganu-r a foi-tune by fair means and foul 
I'ombined, he should retire and let another be sent over to have a turn 
at the plunder. The result of this was that strangers were always in 
authority, men with no sympathy fni' locjil need, and no local rcputa- 



MUTTERINGS OF INSURRECTION. 119 

tion to sustain. It is perfectly obvious what sort of a public service 
such conditions would create. 

As might have been expected, the result was the growth of two 
parties, one the native-born Cubans, and called the insulares, the other 
of those from vSpain, and their adherents, known as the peniusulares. 
The line between them has been sharply drawn for many years, and 
they are on opposite sides of everything. It is from the ranks of the 
continentals that the volunteer corps of Cuba has been drawn, one of 
the most aggravating and threatening of all influences against peace 
in Cuba. 

Spain imposed differential duties in such a way as to virtually 
monopolize the trade of the island. At the same time the prices of all 
imports to Cuba were forced to an unnatural figure, to the great dis- 
tress of the people. Petty oppression in postage and in baptismal 
fees multiplied, so that instead of petty it became great. The increase 
in taxation of Cuba for use in Spain in two years^ prior to the outbreak 
of the Ten Years' war was more than |14,000,000, and the next year 
it was proposed to increase it still more. The cities were hopelessly 
in debt and unable to make the most ordinary and most necessary 
public improvements. What few schools there had been were nearly 
all closed. Lacking insane asylums, the unfortunate of that class 
were kept in the jails. The people saw a countrj' separated from them 
but by a narrow stretch of water, where freedom reigned. Thej- saw 
that they were being heavily oppressed with taxation for the benefit 
of the people of Spain, and that, in addition, they were being robbed 
mercilessly for the benefit of the authorities who were placed over 
them temporarily. If the money collected from them had been 
expended for their benefit in the island, or had been expended hon- 
estly, the case might have been diffei'ent. As it was, however, an 
intolerable condition had been endured too long, and they rose against 
it for the struggle known to history as the Ten Years' war. 



CIIAPTEK XII. 

OUTBREAK OF THE TEN YEARS' \VA1{. 

Cuba Again Stirred to Turmoil — The Taxes of the Island Imreased — A 
Declaration of Indejiendenei^ — Civil Government Oijjanized — Meeting 
of the Legislature, and Election of Odicers — The Edict of a Tyrant. 

Before the outbreak of the Ten Years' War, the reform pax-ty in 
Cuba, which included all the most enlightened, wealthy and inlhiential 
citizens of the island, had exhausted all the resources at their com- 
mand to induce Spain to establish a more just and ei|uilable admiuis- 
tration of aHairs, but all to no avail. 

It was proiM)s('d that Cuba receive an autouoniist constitution. The 
abolition of the sui)reme power of the Captain CieneraJ, the free<l()ui of 
the pres.s, the right of pelilion, llie regulation of the chief frauds b\ 
wiiicli elections were so arranged tiuit no Cuban could hold goveri\- 
nient otlice, the right of a.s.sembly, representation in the Codes, and 
complete local self-governnu-nt were among the reforms asked for. 
The plans were considered in Spain and were reconsidered, and con 
sidered again, and that was about all that ever came of them, except 
that in June, 18(iS, Captain (Jeneral Lersundi was permitted to i-aise 
the direct taxes on the island ten ])er cent. 

Finally, driven to a, judnt where they conld endure it no longer, 
they made the start for fre<'doni, and l)egan to light for it, as brave 
men should do ami have done through the liistoiT of the world. 

Several montlis before the revolution in S)»ain anil the abdication 
of Isabella, measures had Ix'en taken to prejiare for the effort to 
achieve iude]>endence. At last matters jjrogressed so rapidly in the 
iiKtther country that the Cubans dare<l not wait for the comi)letion of 
their plan.s, but on October 10, ISCJS, began the hostilities. On that 
day, Carlos M. de Cespedes, a lawyer of Bayamo, tfx)k the initiative 
with 12S poorly armed men, and issued a declaration of inde])endence 
at Yara, This declaration justified itself by referring in the following 
terms to the grievances that have been outlined: 

"In anning ourscdves against the tyrannical governn)ent of Spnin, 
we must, according to precedent in all civilized countries, prochiim 

120 



OUTBREAK OF THE TEN YEARS' WAR. 121 

before the world the cause that impels us to take this step, which, 
though likely to entail cousiderable disturbances upon the present, 

will ensure the happiness of the future And as Spain 

has many a time promised us Cubaus to respect our rights, without 
having fulfilled her promises; and she continues to tax us heavily, and 
by so doing is likely to destroy our wealth; as we are in danger of los- 
ing our property, our lives and our honor under Spanish dominion," etc. 

Within a few weeks Cespedes was at the head of 15,000 men, ill- 
pi'epai'ed for war, so far as arms and equipment were concerned, but 
well provided with resolution, bravery and a just cause. A civil gov- 
ernment was organized, and a constitution drawn up, providing for an 
elective pi'esident and vice-president, a cabinet, and a single legislative 
chamber. It also declared the immediate abolition of slavery. This 
constitution was promulgated at Guaimaro in Central Cuba, on the 
lOlh of A]iril, ISfiD. The legislature met soon after, and elected Ces- 
pedes president, and Francisco M. Aguilero vice-president. 

This insurrection soon assumed formidable dimensions, and the 
following edict was issued by General Balmaceda: 

Inhabitants of the country! The reiuforceniout of troops that I have 
been waiting for have arrived. With them I shall give protection to the 
good, and punish promptly those that still remain in rebellion against the 
government of the metrojiolis. 

You know that I have pardoned those who have fought us with arms; 
that your wives, mothers and sisters have found in me the unexpected pro- 
tection that you have refused them. You know, also, that many of those we 
have pardoned have turned against us again. Before such ingratitude, such 
villainy, it is not possible for me to be the man I have been; there is no 
longer a place for a falsified neutrality; he that is not for me is against me; 
and that my soldiers may know how to distinguish, you hear the order they 
carry. 

1st. Every man, from the age of fifteen years upward, found awav from 
his habitation (finca), and who does not prove a justified motive therefor, 
wilbbe shot. 

2nd. Every habitation unoccupied will be burned by the troops. 

3rd. Every habitation from which does not float a white flag, as a sig- 
nal that its occupants desire peace, ^\ ill be reduced to ashes. 

Women that are not living in their own homes, or at the houses of their 
relatives, will collect in the town of Jiguani, or Bayamo, where maintenance 
will be provided. Those who do not present themselves will be conducted 
forciblv. 



122 OUTBREAK OF THE TEN YEARS' WAR. 

The foregoing (U-U'imiualioiis will conmicnco to takt' t'lVctt on the 1-ith 
of the present niontli. EL CONDE DE BALMACEDA. 

Bayauu), April 4, ISCl). 

Even Wi'vler, tlie ''Butcher," has never succeeded in concocting a 
manifesto that surpassed this in malicious excuses for the ancient 
Spanish amusements of pilhiuc, incendiarism and murder. 

The Cause a Just One. 

It is now concetled bv high Spanish authorities tliat the insurgents 
had just grounds for this revolt, and Senor Dupuj de Lome, formerly 
the Spani.sh minister to the United States, admits in a letter to the 
New York Herald that a very large majority of the leading citizens of 
the island were in sympathy with tlie struggle for liberty. 

The new government received the moral support of nearly all of the 
South American republics, but as many of them were troubled with 
internal dissensions, and uncertain of their own security, they were 
not in a condition to furaish assistance of a more practical nature, and 
the revolutionists were left to work out their own salvation. 

In an exhaustive review of the trouble between Spain and her 
Cuban possessions, i>ublished in 1873, the Edinburg Keview saiii: 

"It is well known that Spain governs tlie island of Cuba with an 
iron and bloodstained han<l. The former lutlds the latter deprived of 
civil, j)olitieal and n-ligious liberty. Hence the unfortunate Cubans 
being illegally prosecuted and sent into exile, or executed by military 
ciimmissions in time of peace; hence their being kept, from ](ublic 
meeting, and forbidden to speak or write on alTairs of state; iience 
their remonstrances against the evils that alllici tiiem being looked 
upon as the juoceediiigs of rebel.s, from the fact tiiat lliey are bound to 
kee]> silence and obey; hence the never-ending plague of hungry 
oflicials from S])ain to devour the ]u"oduct of their industry ami labor; 
hence their exclusion fiom public slalioiis. and want of tipjiortunity to 
fit themselves for tiie art of gttvernnient ; hence the restrictions to 
which jiublic instruction with them is snbjecletl, in order to keep them 
so ignorant as not to be able to know and enforce their rights in any 
shape or form whatever; hence the navy and tlie standing army, 
which ari' kejit in their country at an enoi'uious exjx'nditure from their 
«iwn wealth, to make tliem bend their knees and submit their necks to 
the iron yoke that disgraces them; hence the grinding taxation under 
which they labor, and which w<Mild make (hem all jierish in misery but 
for tlie marvelous fertility of their soil." 



CHAPTER XIII. 

THE MASSACRE OP THE VIRGINIUS OFFICERS AND CREW. 

Excitement in the United States over a Spanish Outrage of Twentj-five Years 
Ago — The Virginiiis a Blockade Runner — Severity of the Spanish Court 
Martial — Insolence to the American Consul — Indignation in the United 
States — Negotiations Between Washington and Madrid — Settlement an 
Unsatisfactory One to Most People— No Just Retribution Ever Made. 

It was less than twenty-five years before the destruction of the 
Maine, that another vessel whose crew met its fate in a Spanish port in 
Cuba was the subject of as intense public interest in the United States 
as that created by the catastrophe of 1898. The hopeful progress of the 
Cuban revolution of 1868-78 had stimulated their friends in the United 
States to aid the insurg-euts in every way possible, by money, men and 
the munitions of war. Filibustering was constant and scarcely discour- 
aged by the people of the United States, in spite of the protest of Sjiain. 
It was as a result of this condition that the terrible affair of tJie ^'irgin- 
ius occurred. 

The case of the Virglnius had in it elements of tragedy that made it 
more spectacular and dramatic than that of the Maine, a!nd American 
spirit was worked to an even higher tension than it is now, before diplo- 
macy and caution averted a war between the United States and Spain. 
In the case of the Virgiuius the facts of Spanish aggression were in no 
way denied, but, on the contrary, avowed for a time with pride, until 
the authorities at Madrid subdued their people, who were making a set- 
tlement more difficult by their talk. The only controversy was as to 
whether or not Spain's action in the matter was within its rights. Biit 
the settlement, however it might have left the rights of the vessel still 
unsolved, was a rebuke to Spain, and for its execution of American citi- 
zens witli scarcelj' a fonnality of law Spain has never been forgiven by 
those who remember it, whatever diplomacy decided as to being satis- 
fled. 

The Virgiuius was originally an English-built sidewheel steamer 
called the Virgin, and during tlie war between the States was one of the 
most famous of blockade runners until captured by a vessel of the 

133 



124 TUE MASSACRE OP" THE VIRGINIUS. 

United States, lu 1S70 she was sold iu Wasliingtou to an aj:;eut of the 
C'libau Juutu at New York, her uaiue was chauy;ed to Vir<;iuiiis, ami she 
cleareil for Curacoa iu the ^^"est Indies. From that time till her un- 
happy fate .she was never iu United States waters. At Aspinwall and 
in the jiorts of Venezuela and the West Indies she was known for three 
years as the most darinj;- and the most sueiessful of tilibusters, makinj? 
repeated landinj^s ou the Cubau coast witli supplies of aa'm.s, ammuni- 
tion, food and elothes for the iusurj^euts who weiv then tijjhting the Ten- 
Years' war. In all her lilibusteriu}^ it was claimed, however, that (he 
Virj^inius never lost her character as au American ship, though the 
Cubau llaj; was kej)t at the masthead whenever that practice .siM-ved any 
good purpose. 

The ve.ssel sailed on the fatal voyage fioiu Kingston, .famaica, Octo- 
ber L';i, IST."?, having cleared at the United States consulate ns a United 
States vessel bound for Port Simon, Costa Kica. The commander was 
('aptain .Joseph Fry, a citizen of the Unitcnl States. The cargo wa.s made 
iiji of munitions of war for the Cuban insurgents, and the crew was part 
of Cuban and part of American citizens. Thcn-e were also on board a 
number of enlisted men on thtnr way tojoiu the insurgent anny. 

It was not until October 31 that the Virginius ai)|)r()ached the coast 
of Cuba to make her landing, and was interce]>ted by the S]ianisli gun- 
boat Tornado. The Tornado had been built by the same Knulish firm 
that constructed the X'irgiuius, also for blockade running, but in the 
race tiiat followed the N'irginius was unable to e<|ual (he siH'cd ol her 
Si)anish jmrsuer. The cha.se la.sted eight houi-s. Finally, at 10 o'clock 
at night, (he \'irginius was stoi)]ied and surrendei'e<l in res])onse t^i the 
cannon shots of the Tormido, which had come in i"ange. The captiiin 
protestcsl that his pa]>ei-s were regular and that the N'irginius was "an 
AnuM-ican shij), carrying American colors and jKipei-s, wilh an American 
ca)itain and an American i rcw." In res])nnse he was (olil tliat he was a 
f>ira(e, his Hag was Inwcrcd and lianiplcd u|H)n, ami I lie Spanish (lag 
was hoisled in its place. 

During I he cha.se after I In- X'iiuiniiis, tlic passengers and crew of 
the faleil vessel were in a slate of i)anic. 'i'iie cargo, which was made 
up of war material, was thrown overboard, and all jx-rsons on the vessel 
emptied their trunks of whatever might be considered suspicious. 
Ainuist from the instant of the cajiture the fate of the unfortunate men 
was assureil, and they so(»n i-ealized the extent of (lie danger tliat threat- 
ened them. 



THE MASSACRE OP^ THE N'iUClMUS. 135 

Verdict of the Spanish Court-Martial. 

When the Toruado and the "S'irginius reached Sautia^o de Cuba the 
next day the 155 men captured were placed in close confinenieut and a 
court-martial was convened at once. The various courts-nuirtial con- 
demned most if not all of the pi'isoners to death, this summary proceed- 
ing being, as was alleged, in accordance with Spanish laws, so far at 
least as the character of the court and the nature of the judicial forms 
were concerned. The first executions were on the morning of November 
4, when four men were shot, one of them being Brigadier Washington 
Ryan, who claimed British citizenship, as a Canadian, although he had 
served in the I'nion army dunng the late war. The victims were shot in 
the back, and their bodies were afterward beheade<l, the heaxls dis- 
played on spikes and the trunks trampled by horses. George W. Sher- 
man, the correspondent of the New York Herald, tried to sketch the 
scene and was imprisoned for four days for his attempt. A guard kept 
the American consul in his house, so he could not appear to protest. 

As the Virginius had displayed the American colors and was char- 
tered and cleared as an Ameincan vessel, she had a prima facie claim to 
protection as such, until her right should be disproved. Hence Mr. E. G. 
Schmitt, the American vice-consul at Santiago, was prompt and urgent 
in demanding access to the prisoners, with a view to protecting the 
rights of the vessel and an}- on board who might be American citizens. 
He was treated with great discourtesy by the provincial governor, who 
told him in effect that it was none of his business, and persisted in de- 
claring that they were all pirates and would be dealt with as such. Mr. 
Schmitt was even refused the use of the submarine cable to consult 
with the consul at Kingston, Jamaica. He would thus have been left 
entirely helpless but for the friendly aid of the British and French con- 
suls. 

On the 8th of NoAeniber twelve more men were executed, and on the 
13th thirty-seven were executeil, this last batch including the ol'ticerg 
and crew of the Virginius and most of the American citizens. At 4 
o'clock in the afternoon the condemned men were marched to the place 
of execution, passing and saluting the American consulate, where the 
flag was not flying from it.s staff. 

Captain Fry was shot first, and was the only man, though the 
soldiers stood but ten feet aAvay, who fell dead at (he first volley. The 
majority of the poor fellows, as the firing continued, were wounde<l, and 



126 TUE MASSACRE < >r Til E N' 1 UC 1 M I S. 

killi'd as tlii'V lav on tlu- gntund by tlic usual Spanish fashiDU of liriug 
ritlfs iu tilt' mouths of.thuso who weiv disabltHl. The set-ond cii.uinet'r 
of till' Vir};iiiius was ainoug those executed. He had made a deilaratiou 
to the Hi>auish that he had tampertHl with the euj;iues and eut down the 
speed of the vessel so that; she could be captured, and was marchi'd with 
the rest to prevent his comrades from Unowin<;- that he was to be spareil. 
He was shot by mistake while makinj;- frantic protests and explanations, 
but, as he was a traitor in one way or the other, his death was the only 
one of all that was never regretted. 

Protests Were Unheeded. 

iMiiiin;- all this lime l\u- consuls at Sautiajjo were not iiUe, but they 
were helpless. K. (J. Sihmitl, the Auici-ican vice-consul, and Thi^»(lore 
Brooks, the Hritish vice-consul, made all sorts of protests that were un- 
availinji. Schmitt was not pennitled to see the prisoners bef(U-e or after 
the coui-t-martial, until the very end, when he reached Caittain Vry and 
sijrned his protest with him. lie was not ]iermitted the use of the tele- 
{jTajdi in onler to communicate with the jiovernment at AVashinjiton by 
way of Kinjiston, Jamaica. 

lie wrote repeated notes to <icn. P.urncl, I he Siianish cnmmandcr at 
Santia}j;o, {^ellinjj; no answer to them, until at last ;in answer came that 
was more iiritatin}; than silence. IJurriel told him liiat lu' should liave 
known that the previous day was a day of reli<iious festival, durini,' 
which he and all his ollicers were eiipij^cd in "niedilation of tin- divine 
mystei-ie.s," nnd could not consider iein|Miial alTairs. lie also informed 
the consul that he mi;,dit be expelleii from the island for tryinji to em- 
broil the Tnited Slali-s and S|iain iu dillicnllies if he were not careful. 

Then ciime the only bright spot iu the whole affair. News of what 
was going on reacheil .Jamaica, and the Urilisli gunboat Niobe, Captain 
Sir Lambton Lorraine, left for the scene of massacre, sailing in such a 
hurry that he left some of the crew ashore. The Captain lande<l at San- 
tiago bef<u-e his ship Wiusanchoi-ed, and demanded that the slaughter be 
st<»|)iK'd instantly, lie declared thai he represented the T'nited States 
as well as England, and lliat he would bondiard the city if there was 
anotiier American citizen executed. Ninety-three men were under seu- 
teu< e of deiiih, man.\ of whom were Americans, but the sentences were 
immediately suspendeil and the lives were saved. The Spanish after- 
wiird asserted that llie executions were stopped because of ord<'rs re- 
ceived from Madriil. 



THE MAS8ACHE OF THE VlKdlXHS. 127 

The next time Sir Lambton Lorraiue was in New York he was 
offered a reception, which he declined. He was presented, however, with 
a silver brick, on which were engraved the words: "Blood is thicker 
than water." A resolution of thanks to him was laid on the table in the 
House of Representatives and never passed. 

American Demands for Vengeance. 

When the news of all this reached the United States, public indigna- 
tion rose rapidly. Mass-meetings were held demanding vengeance on 
Spain. President Grant sent special messages to Congress, and the state 
department began diplomatic negotiations. Hamilton Fish, secretary 
of state, declared that the Virginius, having been registered as an 
American vessel carrying official documents regular upon their face and 
bearing the United States flag; was entirely beyond the jurisdiction of 
any other power on the high seas in the time of peace; that if she had 
secured fraudulent entry or committed any other fraud against the laws 
of the United States it was for her to be turned over to the United States 
courts for punishment, and not for her to be captured and punished bj- 
some other power. 

The Spanish minister of foreign affairs at that time was Admiral 
Polo de Bernabe, father of the new Spanish minister who succeeded 
Dupuy de Lome. He wanted to submit the matter to arbitration, and 
Secretary Fish replied to him that the "United States was readj- to refer 
to arbitration all questions properly subjects for reference, but that the 
question of au indignity to the flag of the nation and the capture in time 
of peace on the high seas of a ^T?ssel bearing tliat flag and having also 
the I'egister and papers of an American ship, is not deemtnl to be one 
referable to other powers to detennine. A nation must be the judge 
and custodian of its own honor." 

Most of the men were executed after protests to Madrid began to be 
made. Madrid mobs made a demonstration against the American min- 
ister. General Sickles. November 4, Secretary Fish cabled Sickles: "In 
case of refusal of satisfactory reparation within twelve days from this 
date close your legation and leave Madrid." Ten days later, when the 
executions were over, he telegraphed: "If Spain cannot redress these 
outrages, the United States will." Ten days after that he wired: "If no 
settlement is reached by the close of to-morrow, leave." Next day Spain 
became tractable and war was averted. 



1 ■.>S 'IM I !•: .M A SSA < ■ 1{ K ( > F T 1 1 K \' 1 1 K! 1 N [ L" S 

I5v liis ((iimIikI ill Miitliid at thai lime (Jeiicral Sicilies made many 
fiiciids of iliosi' Americans who wanted to s<.h^ ouergotie action, anil 
many enemies amonji; those who wanted pwue at any price. It was 
alle;;ed afterward that the latter intlnence became dominant, and that 
liis recall from that \n»4 was the result of their work to pnuish him for 
his energy that wa.s not always dij)lomatic in its forms. 

Settlement of the Trouble. 

'I'lie terms of seltleiiient of the troul)le were llial the Virjiiuius 
shonld i)e surrendered to an American warshi]i, willi the survivors of 
those who had been captured with her, and that on December 25 the 
United States flajj; sliould be saluted by the Tornado. The surrender 
was made in the obscure harbor of Bahia Honda, December 1(>, llu' 
Sjianish havinj;; taken the Virjiinius- there to avoid the humiliation of a 
surrender in Santiajio or Havana, wher(' it should have been made. 
rai)tain W. D. Whitinj;-, the chief of staff of tJie North Atlantic Squad- 
ron, was apixiinted to receive the surrender of the A"iri;inius, and the 
j^unboat Dispatch was sent to Uahia ilon<la with him for that [lurpose. 
Lieut. Adol])h .Marix was the tlajf lieutenant of the Dispatch, the same 
who was afterwards the judge-advocate of the court of iu<iuiry on the 
Maine disaster. The \'irginius was delivered with the Hag tlying, but 
she was nnsea worthy, and, struck by a stonn olT ('ape llatteras, was 
siiid; on her way to New York. The salute to the flag that had been ar- 
ranged was waived by the I'nited States because the attorney-general 
gave an opinion that the Virginins liad no right to lly the .\merican 
flag when she was ca|»tuied. 

.Major Moses I". Handy, afterwards famous as a journalist, was pres- 
ent at the suriendei- of the X'irginius to tlie American men of war in 
liie harbor of ISaiiia Honda, and gives a grapliic account of the circum- 
slances attending that ceiemony. In concluding the tale he savs: "Tlie 
suriender of the survixing ]»rison«'rs of the massacre took ])lace in llie 
course of time at Santiago, owing imu'e to British insistence than ttt our 
feeble representation. .\s tf» the tifty-three who were killecl, S])ain 
never gave us any real satisfaitioii. Fi>v a loi\g tinu' the .Madrid govern- 
ment unblushingly denied that there ha<l been any killing, and when 
forced to acknowledge the fact they put us off with prepf)Sterons ex- 
cii.ses. 'nntchiM' Horriel,' by whose orders the outrage was per])etrated, 
was considercf] at .Madrid to iiave bceu jnsiilied by circumstances. It 
was prctendi-i] ilial orders t<> susjiend the execution of Kyan and his 



THE MASSAGKE OF THE VlKtJINIUS. 129 

associates were 'unfortunately' received too late, owing to intermption 
of telegraph lines by the insurgents, to whose broad and bleeding shoul- 
ders an attempt was thus made to shift the responsibility. 

"There was a nominal repudiation of Borriel's act and a promise was 
made to inflict punishment iipon 'those who have offended,' but no pun- 
ishment was inflicted upon anybody. The Spanish government, with 
characteristic double dealing, resorted to procrastination, prevarication 
and ti'ickery, and thus gained time, until new issues effaced in the Amer- 
ican mind the memoiy of old wrongs unavengetl. Instead of being de- 
graded, Borriel was promoted. Never to this day has there been any 
adequate atonement by Spain, much less an apology or expression of 
regret for the Virginius massacre." 

The amount of money paid to the United States government for dis- 
tribution among the families of American sufferers by this affair was 
|S0,000. And that is the extent of the reparation made for tlie shocking 
crime. 

The Virginius, although the most conspicuous, was not the only 
American victim of Spanish misgovernment in Cuba during the Ten 
Years' war. In 1877 the three whaling vessels. Rising Sun, Ellen Kiz- 
jiah, and Edward Lee, while pursuing their legitimate business under 
the American flag, outside of Cuban waters, were fired upon and de- 
tained for days, with circumstances of peculiar hardship and brutality. 
The United States government investigated the outrage with care, and 
demanded of Spain an indemnity of |19,500. The demand, however, was 
not enforced, and the sum of |10,000 was accepted as a compromise set- 
tlement. 



CHAPTER XIV. 

OPERATIONS OF THE TEX YEARS' WAR. 

Till' Two Wars Compared — The Havana Volunteers — The Slau},'liter at the 
\illaueuva Theater — The Court Martial of the Students — A Holiday 
in llaviuia — The Close of the War — The Treaty of Zanjon. 

The reader who has \vatrbe<l closely the struggle iu Cuba fur tbe 
jiast three years ueed uot be told that Spain has had every advantage 
in men, money, arms and ammunition. The same state of affairs ex- 
isted during tbe Ten Years' War. In fact, tbe inequality was even 
greater, for tbe Spanisb arnij' was then composed of experienced sol- 
diers who were well fed, well dotbed and paid regularly. In tbe pres- 
ent conflict many of tbem are boys wbo bave been sent from bome to 
make targets for insurgent bullets. T\wy know comparatively noth- 
ing of military tactics, they bave not been paid for mouths, and they 
lack food and clothing. Tbe equipment of tJie insurgent forces in the 
foi-mcr rebelliim was even more limited than it ba.s been in this one. 
^\■ili]e tliey did not t'xporience serious dilliculty in obtaining food, the 
im])lcmenls of war in any (juantities were beyond their reacb. But 
the same sjiirit that gave courage' to our American heroes in i-cvolu- 
tionary times was in tiiem, anil for (en years Ihey struggled bravely 
against overwhelming itdds. 

It is not possible to tell in detail <pf Hie monstrous cruelties practiced 
by tbe Spanisb army during those years of carnage. Here is the testi- 
mony of one oflicei': 

"We ca])tured seventeen, thii-teeii of wliom were shot outright; on 
d\ing they shouted, 'Hurrah for Free Cuba, hunah for independence.' 
A iiiulatlo said, Miiirrah for res|)ed(>s.' On the following day we killed 
a Cultan ollicer and anotiier man. Among the thirteen that we shot 
llir> first day we fo\ind tiiree sons and their father. The father wit- 
nessed tlif* cxecntioii of bis sons without even changing color, and 
when his turn came be said be died for tiie independence of bis coun- 
try. On coming ba<k we lirougbt along with us three carts filled with 
womc-n and childien, the families of those we bad siiot, and they asked 

130 



OPERATIONS OF THE TEN YEARS' WAR. 131 

US to shoot them, because they would rather die thau live aiuoug Span- 
iards." 

Another wrote: 

"Not a single Cuban will remain in this island, because we shoot 
all that we find in the fields, on tlie farms and in every hovel. We do 
not leave a creature alive where we pass, be it man or animal. If we 
find cows we kill them, if horses, ditto, if hogs, ditto, men, women or 
children, ditto. As to the houses, we burn them. So every one receives 
his due, the men in balls, the animals in bayonet thrusts. The island 
will remain a desert." 

In the cities, outrages equally barbarous were committed. 

The Havana Volunteers. 

The Havana volunteers, made up of the Spanish-born residents, in 
whose favor the government of the island has always been arranged, 
took possession of Ilavana, and put it under mob rule. In May, 1870, 
they marched out in front of the Villaneuva theater and fired volleys 
into the crowds that were entering. They had reason to believe, some 
of them said, that the performance to be given there was to raise funds 
for the insurgent cause. 

So powerful was this organization that shortly after this outrage 
they placed the Captain-General of the island under an-est, and finally 
shipped him to Spain, sending word to the home government that he 
was not severe enough in his rule to suit their views, and suggesting 
that in case there were no Peninsulars who had the necessary stamina 
to govern Cuba according to their ideas, they might feel it advisable to 
assume command themselves. 

On another occasion the dead body of one of tliese volunteere was 
placed in a public tomb in Ilavana, and the repository was found to 
have been defaced by scurrilous writing on the glass of the door. For 
no known reason, except a blood-thirsty desire for vengeance on some- 
one, no matter whether guilty or innocent, it was claimed that the 
outrage was committed by some of the students of the university, and 
on complaint of the volunteer corps, forty-three of these young men 
were arrested. 

They were aiTaigned before the military tribunal, and so mani- 
festly unjust was the accusation that an officer of the regulai- army of 
Spain volunteered to defend them. There was absolutely no proof 
against them, and they were acquitted. But the volunteers were deter- 



132 OPEKATIONS OF THE TEN VEAKS' WAK. 

niiut'd that their victims shi)uld uot escape, aud taking advantage of 
the fear in which they were held, even by the llavana officials, they 
forced the Governor-deneral to issue an order for a second court- 
martial. At this examination they manipulated mattei-s so tJiat two 
thirds of the members of the trial board were connected with their 
organization, and a verdict of guilty was quickly rendered against all 
of the prisoners. Eight of them were sentenced to be shot, ami tlie 
others to long terms of iniitrisonment at hard labor. 

The day of the execution was a holiday in Havana. Bauds of music 
paraded the streets, followcnl by the volunteers, 15,000 stixjug, while 
behind them, bound in chains, and under militiiry guard, came the 
eight boys who had been condemned to die. Conscious of their inno- 
cence of any crime, they did not falter, but marched bravely to the 
place of execution, where tJiey face<l their murderers and fell, riddled 
by bullets from the rilles of tlie volunteers. The reiKul of this alTair 
sent a thrill of horror througiiout the whole of the civilized world, and 
the i)eri)etralors of the outrage were^ severely censured by the Span- 
ish Cortes, but there was no attempt at imnislinient. nor were the ones 
who had been iinprisone<l released. 

Meantime the war was being carried ou in the provinces with vary- 
ing success, but dissensions linally arose between the civil and mili- 
tary authorities of the rejuiblic of Cuba, and as "a house divided against 
itself cannot stand," the effectiveness of the campaign wji.s desU-oyed, 
and, in 1878, concessions were offered by the Spanish government, 
which were accepted by the revolutionists, and the struggle was ahan- 
doneil. 

What the outcome of the <-ontest might have been, could it have 
been continued with the leaders united for its success, is an ojien (pies- 
tion. Ah the years went by the raidv and lile of the Cuban army seenie<l 
to be more determined than ever to throw off the yoke, an<l the gov- 
ernment in Spain became less prompt in sending supiilies of men ami 
money to cari-j- on the war. They eagerly seize<l the op]M)rtunity to 
bring it to a close, and the treaty of /anjon, which was signed by (Icii- 
eral Martinez Campos, the Spanish (lovernor-General of the island, 
and General Maximo Gomez, Commander-in-Chief of the Cuban army, 
pn)mise<l many reforms, and gave amnesty to all Avho had taken part 
in the rebellion. 



CHAPTEK XV. 

THE PEACE OF ZANJON AND ITS VIOLATED PLEDGES. 

Hpauish Hypocrisy and Deceit — Cubans Denied Representation — Increase of 
Taxation — The Royal Edicts — A I'lausible Argument, Which Is Not 
Borne Out by Facts — Spain's Promises Always Broken. 

If Spaiu had been sincere in the promises of refonn she made her 
Cuban colony when the treaty of Zaujon was signed, it is probable 
that the present war would have never occurred. For while a few of 
the leaders — notably General Maceo — refuscnl to become pacifieil, the 
great majority of the better classes were glad to accept a peaceful set- 
tlement on terms that gave tliem, in fact, if not in name, nearly every 
concession for which they had fought. 

But it did not take them long to learn that they had been duped. 
Spain granted to Cuba the liberties of Puerto Kico, which had none. 
On this deceitful ground was laid the new situation, through which 
ran a current of falsehood and hypocrisy. Spain, whose mind did not 
change, hastened to change the name of things. The captain-general 
was called the governor-general. Tlie royal decrees took the name 
of authorizations. The commercial monopoly of Spain was named 
coasting trade. The right of banishment was transformed into the 
law of vagrancy. The brutal attacks of defenseless citizens were called 
"componte." The law of constitutional guarantees became the law of 
public order. Taxation without the consent or knowledge of the Cuban 
people was changed into the law of estimates (budget) voted by the 
representatives of Spain. 

The painful lesson of the Ten Years' War was entirely lost on 
Spain. Instead of inaugurating a redeeming policy that would heal 
the recent wounds, allay public anxiety, and quench the thirst for jus- 
tice felt by the people, who were desirous to enjoy their natural rights, 
the Peninsula, while lavish in promises of reform, persisted in carry- 
ing on, unchanged, its old and crafty system, namely: to exclude 
every native Cuban from everj' office that could give him any effective 
influence and intervention in public affairs; the uugovemable exploita- 
tion of the colonists' labor for the benefit of Spanish commerce and 

133 



131 THE PEACE OF ZANJON. 

Spauish bureaucrac-y, both civil and military. To carry out. the latter 
pui-pose it was necessiU'y to maiutain the former at any cost. 

Mr. Clarence Kinj;, a reco<;nized authority ou political subjects con- 
uected with Cuban alVairs, says: 

"The main concession for which the insurgents accepted peace was 
the promise of cou.stitutional reform. As a matter of fact, there 
]n'omptly followed four royal edicts as follows: June 9, entitling Cuba 
to elect deputies to the Coi-tes, one for each 40,000 iM'ople; June 9, 
dividing the island into the pit'sent six provinces; June 21, instituting 
a system of provincial and municipal goveniment, followed on August 
Hi by the necessai-y electoral regulations. But the system was imme- 
diately- seen to be the shadow witliout tlie substance of self-govern- 
ment. The Provincial Assembly could nominate only three candidates 
f(»r presiding ollicer. It was the inevitable governor-general who had 
the power to api)oint, not necessarily one of the three nominees, but 
any member of the Assembly he chose. Hut all this ])rovincial machin- 
ei-y is in reality an empty form, sinci' expressly by law the governor- 
general was given the jMiwer to prorogue the a.ssemblies at will. The 
deputies have never been able to accomplish anything in the Cortes. 
Moreover the cnix of the whole linancial opi)ression — tariif, tjixes, and 
absolute control and expenditure of the i-evenue — remained with 
fc?]>ain." 

The hfyal Spaniard insists that every agreement entered into by his 
government was faitiifully carrietl out; that the Cubans were given 
from lime to time even greater liberlies than the treaty i)romised them; 
and that in several matters (»f imit(»rtaiue, immunities have been 
grantetl them that the people of the mother countiT did not share. 

The Assistant Colonial Secretary of Spain concludes a voluminous 
<lefcns(' of the policy of his government in Ciilia as follows: 

Tlici-c is thus no rc;ison in ('nba to conii)lain of the illibenility of 
till- laws. If llii-ii- lias lircM any shortcoming in respect to morals, the 
nation is not to blame; none liut the colonial ]>rovinces are to blame 
for this; if we proposed to seek comfort in compariscuis, it would not 
be neces.sary to hxdi for them in South America, in the countries tiiat 
have emancipat<>d themsi-lves from the S|»anish m<)tlier-country, be- 
cause examples (some of them very re<'ent) of acts of violence, anarchy 
and scandalous outbreaks could be found in the Slates of the Union 
itself. 

In n-spccL to another matter, a great d.-al of foolish talk is indulged 
in. I'lom the statements of some j^ooide it would appear that Cuba 



THE PEACE OF ZANJON. 135 

does nothing but. contribute, by the taxes wliicli it pays, to alleviate 
the burdens of the poniusuhir treasury, whereas, in reality, just the 
c-ontrai-y is the truth. The nation has, of late, guaranteed the conver- 
sion of Spanish debts in Cuba, which took place in 1886 and 1890. 
Owing to these operations, and to the fact that all taxes which did not 
have to be met directly by its government have been rigorously elim- 
inated from the budget of Cuba, it was possible to retluce the Cuban 
budget from forty-six and one-half million dollars, which was its 
amount at the close of the former war (for the fiscal year of 1878-79) to 
a little more than twenty-three millions of dollars, a.s appears from the 
budget of 189.3. 

The financial laws have been assimilated, and if the system of taxa- 
tion has not been entirely assimilated, this is because of the fact that 
direct taxes are vei"y repugnant to the popular feeling in Cuba, espe- 
cially the tax on land, which is the basis of the Peninsular budget. It 
appears, however, that our Cuban brethren have no reason to complain 
in this respect. The direct tax on rural property is two per cent, in 
Cuba, whereas in Spain it is seventeen, and even twenty per cent. It 
is evident that every budget must be based on something; in Cuba, as 
in all other countries in which the natural conditions are similar, that 
something must necessarily be the income from customs duties. Not- 
withstanding this, it may be I'emarked that in the years when the 
greatest financial distress prevailed, the Spanish Government never 
hesitated to sacrifice that income when it was necessary to do so in 
order to meet the especial need of the principal agricultural product 
of Cuba. Consequently the Spanish commercial treaty with the 
United States was concluded, which certainly had not been concluded 
before, owing to any fault of the Spanish Government. Under that 
treaty, the principal object of which was to encourage the exportation 
of Cuban sugar, which found its chief market in the States of the 
Union, many Spanish industries were sacrificed which have formerly 
supplied the wants of the people of Cuba. That sacrifice was unhesi- 
tatingly made, and now that the treaty is no longer in force, is due to 
the fact that the new^ American tariff has stricken sugar from the free 
list. 

Attention may also be called to the fact that the colonial provinces 
alone enjoy exemption from the blood tax, Cuba never having been 
obliged to furnish militai'v recruits. 

The disqualifications of the Cubans to hold public office is purely a 
myth. Such disqualifications is found on the text of no law or regula- 



13lJ TUK I'KACK OF ZANJON. 

tidu, and iu puiiit uf fact tbt-iv is no sucb excliisiou. lu order to verify 
this assertion it would be sullicleiit to examine tbe lists uf Cuban 
oflieers, especially of tbuse employed iu tbe administration of justice 
and in all brancbos of iustruction. Even if it were desired to make a 
comparison of political ollices, even of tbose connected witb tbe func- 
tions wbicb are discbar{j;eil in tbe Peninsula, tbe proportion would still 
be sbown in wbicb Spaniards in Cuba aspire to botb. Tbe fact is tbat 
a common fallacy is api)ealed to in tbe lan<;ua^e babitually used by tbe 
enemies of Si>ain, wbo call persons "Peninsulars" wbo were not born in 
Cuba, but bave resided tbere many years and bare all tbeir ties and 
interests tbere, and do not call tbose "Cubans" wbo were born tbere 
and bave left tbe island in order to met>t necessities connectiil, per- 
baps, witb tbeir occupation. Tbis was done in tbe Senate, wbeu tbe 
advocates of tbe se]iarati(iu of Cuba only were called "Cubans," wliile 
tbose only wbo refused allejj;iance to tbe Spanisb mutber-countr}- were 
called patriots. 

In conclusion, I will relate a fact wbicb may appear to be a joke, 
but wbicb, in a certain way, furnisbed proof of wbat I bave just said. 
AVben Kafael Gasset returne<l fmm Ilabana, be came and asked me for 
some data sbowin<j tbe proportion of Cuban.s boldin*? ofUce under our 
(Jovernment. I asked bim, as a prelimiuaiy question, for a delinitinu 
of wbat we were to understand by "Cuban" and wbat by "Peninsular." 
lie immediately admitted tbat tbe decision of tbe wbole question was 
based upon tbat delinition, and I called bis attention to tbe fact tbat 
here, in tbe Ministry of tbe ('(doiiies, at tbe present time, tbei"e are 
tbrtM' bi;;Ii ^overniueiital functionaries. One is a representative from 
Ilabana, being at tbe siimo time a professor in its University, and 
anotber, viz., your buitible servant, is a Spaniard because be was born 
iu Ilabana itself. Is the other man a Peninsular, and am I not a 
Cuban? GUILLEKMO. 

Assistant Colonial Secretary of Spain. 

This is tlie arj,Miment from the Peninsular stand]K)int, and it is prob- 
ably made in pxid faitb. Put wliile tbe Spanish rule in Cuba may 
seem to be just and equitable in theory, it is ojipressive and tyrannical 
in fact. While tbe government may have partly carried out the letter 
of its promises, there ba.s been no elTort to fullill the spirit of the com- 
l>a<-t in the slighest degree, and tho vi(dated pledges of the treaty of 
Zanjon only add new chapters to the long record of Spanisb treachery 
and deceit. 



OU AFTER XVI. 

PRErAKATIONS FOR ANOTHER REBELLION. 

Spain's Toluy of Distrust— The Cost of tlic Ten Years' War— Work of tlie 
Cuban E.xiles- Revolutionary Clubs in tlie Western Hemispliere— An 
Expeiditiou Checked— Heroism of Cuban Women— The Struggle Begun. 

Ever since Spain lost her colonies on the American continent tlie 
Cubans have striven to gain their independence. The Ten Years War 
cost the mother countiy 300,000,000 pesetas and 100,000 men, most of 
them victims of yellow fever. When slavery was abolished in 1880 
fresh disturbances ensued. The majority of slave holders, who received 
no compensation, joined the party of independence. 

Spain, adhering to her old policy of distrust, retained a large army 
in Cuba and a na\-y round about her shores, the expenses of wliich caused 
the budget to amount to .'i!4(i,594,000 at a time when two-thirds of the 
island was nothing but a mass of i-uins, and when Cuba was 'beginning 
to feel the effects of the competition with other sugar-producing 
countries. 

While the European manufacturers received important bounties 
those of Cuba had to pay export duties on their sugar, and the impor- 
tation of all agricultural and industrial implements was subjected to 
a tariff almost prohibitive. 

Two laws were enacted in 1S82 to regulate commerce between Cuba 
and Spain. By the provisions of these laws the import duties on all 
Spanish products were to be gradually diminished until their importa- 
tion in Cuba became entirely free, while the Cubans had to pay on their 
imports to Spain duties which practically closed the Spanish market to 
all their products. 

Spanish goods, as a rule, are much inferior to those of English, 
French or American manufacture, but the Cuban consumer was forced 
to buy Spanish goods or pay an exorbitant price for those which he 
would have preferred to buy at a fair price. An instance will suffice 
to illustrate this: When the present war began in 1895 the duty on a 
hundred kilogrammes of woolen cashmere was fifteen dollars and forty- 

137 



138 I'KKrAKATlONS I'OlJ AXoTllKK KKI'.KLLIOX. 

st'VC'U ri'Uts if 8i»aiiish, tliii'c huiKlicd dollars if foreign. These differ- 
t'lilial duties opened a reign of ]jros|ierit.v for induslry in Spain, where 
foreign g(M)ds were imported oi- smuggled, to be later sent to Cuba as 
Spanish. 

The inju.stice of these cnmmeri iai laws was so evident and so det- 
rimental to the interests of ("uba thai in l.s;)4 the Planters' Association, 
the |)resid( 111 nt w liich, the Count de Diana, was a Spaniard, refeiTed to 
them as "destructive of our jjublic wealth, a source of iiiexiinguish- 
able discontent and the germ of serious di.s.sensions." 

The insular budgets could never be covered, and the result was 
that the public debt was kept on tiie increase. The expenditures were 
classtnl as follows: For army and navy, ;U1.."){) ])er cent of the budget's 
total; for the debt, 40.89; for justice and goverunieut, 19.77, and foi' ])ub- 
lic works, 2.75. No public work of any kind was begun in the seviii- 
teen j-ears which Intervened between the two wars. 

The Cuban Treasury, between IS'SA and istll, sent to Siiaiii 
§S2,1(>."),4;5() in gold. This money entered tJie Spanish Treasury as 
"Colonial surplus," but as a Spanish writer (Zaragoza) says in his book, 
" Las Insiirreccioiies de Cuba," it was absurd to sjx'ak of a surplus 
when not even the o[)ening of a bad road was undertaken. 

rolitically, the condition of the Cubans after the restoration of 
peace in 1N7S, was as bad as it had been before. Laws existed whicli 
might lead unobserving persons to believe IJial the ('ubaiis nijuycd 
every liberty, but as a matter of fact the Cubans were ke|(i iiiider ihe 
most unbearable vassalage. The Spaniards in Cuba bcrore tliis war 
numbered only U.'.W per cent of the island's ])oj)ulatioii, luii. availing 
them.selves of a law which ga\i- In tlieiii a inajority in llie elecloral 
census, (hey were to return t wi-iily-fdur <if the thirly dcpiii iis wliitli tlie 
island then sent to the Spanish <'(iiles. 

So reslrictive was the ele<-toral law Ihat only .">:{, (1(10 men were (pial- 
ified III vole in the entire island, although its jiopulalion was l,7(il-',0(IO. 
In till- miinicijial <lis(rict of Ciiiines, with a po]iiilalion of 12,.~)00 Cubans 
and .-)()(( Spaniards, (he elecloral census included 400 Spaidards and 
Ihirty-lwo ("iibaiis. This is one among many similar instances. The 
r.<»ard of Aldermen in Havana, (he capital city of Ihe island, has for 
years been made up entirely of Sjianiards, and I lie same may be said of 
Cienfuego.s and other important cities. 

Despite all constitutioiuil provisions the governor-general of the 
isla-nd had the power h> de]iort from the island, without a trial, any 



PREPARATIONS FOR ANOTHER REBELLION. 139 

person whose presence there he considered dangerous to the security 
of the State. The island was at peace when Cepeda, Lopez de Brinas 
and Marquez Sterling, all journalists, were deported. The liberty of 
the press was and still is a myth. El Pais, the Autonomist organ, was 
criminally prosecuted in 1889 because it denounced the appointment of 
one of the sous of the president of the llavana Court of Appeals to a 
place which he could not lawfully hold. 

What liberty of association the Cubans enjoyed may be judged from 
the fact that a delegate of the goYernment had to be present at their 
meetings, with power to dissolve them whenever he saw fit to do so. 

No Cuban was able to obtain a place in the administration unless 
he was rich enough to go to Madrid and there become acquainted with 
some influential politician. Even so, Cubans seldom succeeded in being 
appointed to places of importance. 

The Cuban exiles in Key West, New York and other cities in the 
United States, and in Costa Rica, Honduras, Santo Domingo and other 
parts of Spanish America, had been planning a new uprising for several 
years. The desire of the Cubans for national independence was quick- 
ened by what the^^ suffered from Spain's misgoverumeut. For two or 
three years the exiles in the United States and Spanish American 
countries, veterans of the war of 1868-78, and younger champions of 
free Cuba, organized clubs, collected a war fund, purchased munitions 
of war and laid plans with their compatriots in Cuba for a new struggle 
for independence. There were 140 revolutionary clubs in North and 
South America, Cuba and other W^est India islands, affiliated under 
the name of the revolutionary party, ready to support an uprising with 
financial and moral aid. Cuban workingmen in the United States prom- 
ised to contribute a tenth of their earnings, or more if necessary. There 
were firearms on the island that had remained concealed since the 
former war, some had been bought from corrupt custodians of the gov- 
ernment arsenals, who, finding it impossible to get pay due them from 
Spain, took this metiiod of securing what was rightfully theirs. 

An Expedition Checked. 

An expedition that planned to sail in the yacht Lagonda from 
Fernandina, Fla., on January 14, 1895, was broken up by the United 
States authorities. General Antonio Maceo, its leader, with Josd Marti, 
the political organizer of the new government, went to Santo Domingo, 
where they could confer with the revolutionist leaders living in Cuba. 



UO I'KKl'AKATIONS FOK ANOTIIKK KEHELLION. 

Tlii'ie Marti found Maximo (Jouu'Z, tlie veterau of a dozeu slrugylos 
and a brave and able soldier, and offered him the command and organiza- 
tion of the army. Uomez aL-cepted and began at once to arrange his 
programme. 

The plan of the revolutionists was to rise simultaneously in the six 
j)rovinces on Februar}- 24. The leaders on the island and the Mr;^anizers 
abroad had a thorough uuderstan<liug. 

Heroism of Cuban Women. 

Tlie nu-n of Cuba wcri' not alnne in tlu-ir plans fur iniicpcndcufe, 
for their wives and sisters, mothers and sweethearts, were enthusiastic 
and faithful allies. The island was full of devoted women reared in 
indolence and luxury' who were tireless in their successful efforts to 
get word from one scattered rebel band to another, and to send them 
food, medicines ami ilni liiiii;-. These women wt-vi' far bcll'i- con- 
spirators than tlicir lailuis and brothers, for (_"uban nun must talk, but 
the women seem in know the value of silence. 

Beautiful and delicate senoritas would disguise themselves in men's 
attire and steal out at night to the near-by haunts of lover oi' brother 
in the "Long (irass," as the insurgents' cami>s are called, with food 
secreted in false pockets, or letters, whose envelopes had been di])i)ed 
in iidi, hidden in (heir black hair. Medicines were carried in canes, ami 
doth for clothes or wounds was concealeil Iti the lining of coats, (^ne 
girl, disguised as a vender, frecpieiitly cairied to the woods dynamite 
in egg shells deftly i)Ut together. 

She had many thrilling experiences, lm( Imt narrowest escape was 
when a Spanish soldier by the roadside insisted on taking from the 
basket an egg, to let its contents drop in a hot and ready jian. lie 
was with iliilicully ])ersuaded to foreg(» the meal. Tlie dynamite was 
made by another woman, who carefully obtained llie ingredients at 
various times and at widely scattered drug stores. 

.\nd so, with almost every Cuban man, woman and child united in 
a fixed determination to make the island one of the fiic an<I indepen- 
dent nations of the earth, the linal struggle was begun. 



CHAPTER XVII. 

THE CUBAN JUNTA AND ITS WORK. 

Orgauization Wliifli Has Represented the Insurgents in Uie United States — 
Splendid Work Done by Sefior Tomas Estrada I'alnia and His Staff — 
Sources of the War Funds — Generosity of Cuban Cigar Malcers Who 
Have Supported the Revolution — Liberal Gifts from Americans — Some 
Inside Facts about Filibustering — American Sailors Do Not Like to 
Capture Insurgent Supplies — Raima's Address to the American Peojjle. 

From the moment of the first outbreak of insurrection iu Cuba, in 
February, 1S95, the name of the Cuban Junta has been a familiar plirase 
to everyone in the Unitetl States, and yet its functions and its organiza- 
tion have been by no means well understood. There have been those 
in Congress and elsewhere who have spoken of it slightingly as an or- 
ganization banded together for its own profit in some way, not realizing 
that its members were the tiiisted representatives abroad of the whole 
Cuban people. 

The parallels between the Cuban insurrection and that of the Ameri- 
can colonies against Great Britain in ITKi, are far more numerous than 
has been recognized. The Cuban army has been pooi'Iy clothed and 
scantily fed at times, and equipped with all sorts of obsolete weapons of 
offence. But these things ai-e no disgrace, and indeed are the basis of 
much of the pride that Americans tiike in the splendid work which their 
ancestors did in that other insurrection, which, having resulted success- 
fully, is now known as the American Revolution. There have been 
sneers at the government of the Cuban republic because its officers have 
had to move from place to place at various times, in order to avoid 
threatened capture by the Spanish forces. But was there ever a more 
peripatetic national government than that of the American colonies 
during the Revolution, when the legislature and its officers sat succes- 
sively in Philadelphia, Gennantown, Princeton, New York and several 
other places, driven out of each iu turn by the same fear of capture by 
British troops? 

Finally, it ought to be remembered, though it may not be, that the 

141 



142 THE CUBAN JIXTA AND ITS WORK. 

colonies maintained an orga»ization exactlj- similar to that of the Cuban 
Junta in New York, for the pui-pose of securing money and support from 
the people and the governments of Europe, to whom they were ac- 
credited. The only counti^' wliich gave tliem welcome encouragi'meiit 
was France. But Benjaiuiu Fraukliu's position in Paris as the head of 
what was virtually the Ameriian Junta was then and is uow an h(tn<tr 
to his name and his countnnien. It enlisted the same aid from Franci- 
and French citizens that the Cuban Junta in New York has eulisted 
from the Fniti-d States and American citizens, and there is no rea.>«)n to 
form any less creditable judgment of the latter entei-prise than tlic 
former. 

Character of the Work of the Junta. 

The Junta is the organization through which Cuba's fiiends reach 
the Cubans in the field. In many places these friends are bauded to- 
getljer and work for the Cuban cause as organizations. In the Unit^-d 
States and Europe there are 300 Cuban revolutiouarj' clubs, with a 
membei-ship of more than 50,000. These clubs were the outcome of a 
suggestion originating with Jose Marti, and their organization has been 
accompIishe<l by the delegation, with whom the\' are all in closest 
touch, to whom they all account, ;ind through whom tliey all make con- 
tiibuti(»ns in money, clotliing, jtrovislons, arms, and munitions for tliosi- 
who are enduring th«* IwLrdsliijis of the war. Before the revolution be- 
gan tliese clubs liad .*;10(I,()0(I in bajik as a war fund. 

Thi'se most vital contributions must reach the anny in tlie field, and 
it is the business of the delegation to see thjit they get there. And they 
have bi-en getting there umler most advei-se and trying circumstances, 
and amid perils of land and sea where enemies are watching and where 
a friendly government has had to guard against the violation of neutral- 
ity laws. 

For accomplishing its w<n-k the Junta has in no way been restricted 
in authority, the Cuban government having even grantetl special author- 
ity allowing Mr. Palnia to issue a limited amount of bonds, coin money, 
and graiht letters of marque. 

It has further been the business of ilie .Junta — attendeil bj' risk (jf 
life to its agents— to keep in communication with the insurgents. This 
lias been done by secret agents who <-ome and go from New York to Key 
West, from Key West to Havana, from Havana into Spanish cities of 
Cuba and through the provinces (»f the island. 



THE CUBAN JUNTA AND ITS WORK. 143 

The headqiiarters of the Junta bears uo outward sign except that 
the stars and stripes and the single starred fiag of Cuba wave from the 
third-story window, where is Mr. Palma's office. A narrow hall and tor- 
tuous stairs lead to the office of the delegat'C, where on every side are 
signs of active business, with shelves, tables, and desks holding heaps 
of letters, books of accounts, and documents of various sorts. Here the 
delegate works, receives his friends, coworkei-s, and agents. 

Off the main room is a private office, where secret agents report and 
are instructed, and where councils of moment are held and decisions of 
vital import to the Cuban cause reachetl, to be followed by orders that 
;ire of immense importance to the army of liberation. 

The Cuban Junta, with its headquarters, represents the legation of 
the Cuban republic abroad, and the head of the Junta, as it is called, is 
T. Estrada Palma. Properly speaking he is the delegate, and with the 
members of his ministerial and diplomatic household constitutes the 
delegation of the Cuban reijublic. 

The tenn "Junta" has been applied because such a body or council 
was attached to the diplomatic department of Cuba during the Ten 
Years' war. As the authority of the Junta frequently restricted the ac- 
tion of the delegate, the promoters of tJie present revolution decided 
to eliminate it; yet the name remains, and is used and accepted to desig- 
nate Mr. Palma. and his associates. 

Authority of the Junta. 

This Junta, as the representative of the Cuban republic, acts on high 
authority, for the delegation was appointed on September 19, lS9o, by 
the Constituent Assembly that formed the government and commis- 
sioned Maximo Gomez chief commander of the Cuban army. At the 
same time it made Mr. Palma delegate and Cuban representative 
abroad, with authority to appoint ministers to all governments and to 
have control of all of Cuba's diplomatic relations, and representatives 
throughout the wox'ld. Besides this, Mr. Palma is the duly accredited 
minister from Cuba to the United States, and in th^ event of the Cuban 
republic being recognized would be received as such. 

Under his authority Mr. Palma has appointed sub-delegates, or 
diplomatic agents, in France, Italy, Mexico, and the Central and South 
American republics. Cuba's independence not being acknowledged by 
these nations, her ministers are not officially recognized, but are often 



114 THE CUBAN JUNTA AND ITS WOKK. 

unoffiiially reteivetl at the "bac-k door," and exert an inllucm-e for the 
benefit ef Cuba in the countries to wLielitliey are ap]H)intetl. 

Mr. Palnia is in reality the head of the Cuban revolutionary party 
abroad, wldih is one of the three dejiartuients of the Cuban revolulion- 
ary jiovernnient, the two others bein^ ilic civil tioverniucnt and the army 
of liberation. 

This Cuban revolutionary branch was founilcd by Jose Marti, wlio is 
ref^arded by the (Mbans as the aiM)stle ami masUr mind of the Cuban 
revolution. 

Mr. I'alma is not only the head and front of the Junta, but he is the 
one person in whom its authority is rentered. lie was born in Cuba 
about sixty years ajjo, and in his tender youth imbibe<l the sjiirit of lib- 
erty for the island, a spint which j^rew witli him until it inlluenced his 
every word and act, and finally received his entire devotion. So direct, 
gentle, yet determined are his methods, and so unassuming and ])laiu is 
he in speech and manner that he soon became known as the "Cuban 
Franklin," and more firndy has the name become attached to him since 
the potent influence of his policy has been felt throughout the world. 

During the Ten Years' war Mr. Pa.lnia was President of the Cuban re- 
public; was made prisoner by Spanish troops, and sent to Spain, where 
he was imi)i'is(med until the close of the conflict. While in Spain, abso- 
lutely suffering under the hardships of imprisonment, he was offereil 
freedom if he would swear allegiance to the Spanish crown. 

"No!" was his answer. "You may shoot me if you will, Imi if I am 
shot it will be as the President of the Cuban republic." 

Besides Mr. Palma, the oidy members of the delegation appoinlMl 
by the Cuban government are: Dr. Joat|uin I). Castillo, tiie sub-dele- 
gate; Penjamin J. Guerra, treasurer of the republic abroad, and (Jon- 
zalo de (^uesada, duirge d'affaires at Washington. 

Dr. Castillo is vice-delegate and would take Mi-. Palma's ])lace in case 
of ills deal ii nr inahilily to act. 

Sources of the "War Funds. 

The Junta, whoseduty it has been to pi'o\idc the funds for llie cai'ry- 
ing on of the war, has had various sources of in(om(», all of them dis- 
tinctly creditable, both to the integrity of the Cuban authorities and (o 
the sentiments of those who have conti-ibuted the money. The larger 
portion of the cash has come in small contributions from Cubans living 



THE CrUAN JUNTA AND ITS WORK. 145 

in the United States. The ciganuakers of Key West, Tampa, Jackson- 
ville, New York and other cities where large Cuban colonies have con- 
gregated, have proven their patriotism and their adherence to the cause 
l).y giving more generously of their earnings than has ever been done 
before by the people of any country struggling for freedom. There is 
scarcely an exception to the asseition that every Cuban in America has 
shared in contributions to the war fund. 

The minimum contribution has been ten per cent of the weekly earn- 
ings, and this has brought an enormous sum into the coffers of the Junta 
for war purposes. It is true that a war chest of §50,000 or §100,000 a 
week would be hardly a drop in the bucket for the conduct of the war 
after the established methods of organized armies. But this has been 
a war for liberty, and the conditions have been unique. No soldier in all 
the ai'mies of Cuba Libre has ever drawn one dollar of pay for his 
service. Thousands of them have been fighting from the fii"st outbreak 
of insurrection, without receiving a cent of money for it. If the pay of 
an army be deducted from the expenses of a war, the largest item is 
saved. 

Nor has it been necessaiy to purchase many clothes, owing to the 
mildness of the Cuban climate, which tights in favor of those who are 
accustomed to it. The commissary department, too, has been almost 
non-existent, and the soldiers in the field have liveil by foraging and by 
collecting the vegetables and fruits saved for them by the women and 
children, whose hearts are as deep in the conflict as are their own. The 
principal demand for money has been to procure anus, ammunition and 
medical and sui-gical supplies. 

In addition to the contributions which have come from patriotic 
Cubans, another, large source of income to the Junta has been €he silent 
liberality of many American citizens, who have proved their practical 
sympathj' to the cause of freedom by giving of their wealth to aid it. 
Outside of these sources, the only income has been from the sale of 
bonds of the Cuban republic, a means of obtaining money which has 
been used conservatively, so that the infant republic should not be sad- 
dled ^^•itll a heavy debt at the outset of its career as an independent na- 
tion. 

Aside from the contributions of money to the Cuban powers, enor- 
mous quantities of medical and surgical supplies and hospital delicacies 
have been offered by the generous people of the United States, or- 
ganized into Cuban Auxiliary Aid Societies in the various cities of the 



1-tG Till-: criiAN .IINTA AN1> ITS WOHK. 

(•(luiilrv. AiiK'ricau wonu'ii have taken a prouiiiii'iit pai"! in tlii.s more 
meut and Lave won thereby the undying }i;ratitude of the Cubans. 

Some Facts About Filibustering. 

The sailing of vessels fmm New York and other ports with cargoes 
<if sii]>])lies for the Cuban revolutionists has been a frequent oetuiTeute, 
f;ir mure so than has been known to the public. Filibustering is a 
jilirasc tJiat has gained honor during these three years, such as it never 
had before, ('arritnl on in the cause of liunianily and liberty, its motives 
justitied its irregularities, and there have been few to condemn the prac- 
tice. In the fogs of an early morning, some fast steamer would slip 
away from an Atliiutic port, loaded with arms, ammunition, (luiiiine, 
and all sorts of hosi>ital, medical and surgical sui)idies, accompaui(Hl 
usually by a band of Cuban patriots, seeking the tii-st opi>ortunity to re- 
turn to their bejiutiful island and take up arms for its liberation. There 
have been a few such expeditions cajjtured, but for everyone captured a 
score have readied their destination on the Cuban coast without inter- 
ruption, and have lanilrd ilicir cargn in safety in insurgciii cainiis. 

The United States goveniinent, in nvognition of its di]iloiiiatic obli- 
gation.s, sjM'iit millions of dollais prior to the outbreak of our war with 
S|)ain, in carrying on a patrol service on the Atlantic coa.st and the (Julf 
of Mexiro, to prevent the sailing of lilibustering expeditions. Now that 
the day of such |»atrol servici' in the aid of Si)ain is ended forevei-, there 
can be no harm in telling .some of the details that might have been com- 
promising before. 

.\merican cruisers and giiulMials wei-e statlnnctl In the harbors 
around the coa.<*t, from New York to New Orlean.s, and jtarticularly on 
both sides of the Floriila peninsula. To one of these vessels would come 
the Mews thai a suspected filibustering crafl was likely to sail finm a 
cerlaiii |il,ic-e al a certain time, and orders wmilcl he given to inlcrcept 
the np\<'i- if possilile. To cne who ijiij iiol kiinw (lir Iciiiper and I lie 
spirit of American sailors from liigliest to lowest in the service of the 
navy, the actions that followed might have been i)n7,zling. In spite of 
the proverbial alacrity and readiness with which an American vessel 
can make sail, there was always a delay at such times. It was almost 
cei'tiiin that something would lie wrong that would rerpiire some time to 
correct before the anchor could he weighe(|. It might be iiec(>ssary to 
liu_\ provisions or to take on coal before sailing, ami tin ii, more llian 



THE CUHAN JUNTA AND ITS WORK. 147 

once after the auclior was weiglie<l and the artnal stai-l bejj;nn, it would 
be discovered that some minor accident had occurred to the machinery, 
which would require another halt to repair it. Finally at sea, the 
cruiser would steam away at full speed in the direction of the reported 
filibuster, until her hull and even her smoke disappeared far down in the 
horizon. 

Capturing of Filibustering Vessels. 

What happened after that no one ashore could know. But more 
than once there were grave suspicions that other delays occun-ed as 
soon as the vessel was well out of sight, or that the course was changed 
in pursuit of some other passing vessel, until after a few hours' chase 
it would be discovered to be an unoffending craft, and tlie course would 
be resumed towards the goal, as first ordered. 

However these things may be, it is certain that the capture of a fili- 
bustering vessel before her cargo was discharged was an almost un- 
known event, and that the capture of such a craft after hw cargo was 
discharged could in no way be disastrous to the Cuban cause when noth- 
ing could be proved against the boat or her men. Certain it is that no 
oflicer or sailor in the American navy ever wanted to capture a fili- 
buster. To an American it was a blot on the honor of the ship that it 
should be used to intercept arms and ammunition on their way to an 
oppressed people struggling for their freedom. It is safe to siay that 
the two or three captures which, were made of filibusters at such a time 
that their confiscation and the conviction of their officers could not be 
avoided, Avas a distinct grief to every man who participated in the 
chase and the punishments that followed. 

No one can deny the integTity or the ability of the men who are en- 
listed in the cause of Cuba as the New York Junta, who knows the facts 
as to their personality and the work they have done. Some of the diplo- 
matic and state papei's which have been issued by Sefior Palma are 
worthy to take rank with the utterances of any American who has 
gained fame in national history for similar work. A notable instance 
of the dignity and the eloquence with which, he speaks, is found in the 
proclamation to the people of the United States which he issued but a 
few weeks before the outbreak of our war with Spain. ITe said: 

Senor Palma on the Spanish Concessions. 

"The persistency with which the American press has during the last 
few days been treating of supposed administrative reforms to be in- 



148 THE < TIJAN JINTA AM» ITS WoKK. 

trotliK cil ill Cuba b.v the goveruincut of Spain, eomix'ls me to re<im'st 
tln' publicatitm of the followiii}'- (k'«la rat ions, which I make in behalf of 
my {government, of the army of liberation of Cnba, and of the Cnban 
revohitionary party. 

"The <iiicstion of the irroposed rcfi(niis is not a matter wiiich at all 
coneerns those who have already established an independent govern- 
ment in Cuba and have resolved to shrink from no sacritire of property 
or life in order to enianeipate the whole island from the Spanish y<tke. 
If the Spanish ivsidents of the island who are favored by the Spanish 
government with all sorts of i)rivilejj;es and monopolies, and if the 
handful of Cubans, too pusilhuiimous or too proud to acknowledge their 
error, or a few foreigners guided only by selfish interests, are siitisfied 
that Cuba should remain under SjKvnish domination, we who tight under 
the Hag of the solitary st;ir, we who already constitute tJie l{e]iublii- nf 
Cuba, and belong to a free peojde with its own government and its own 
laws, are firndy resolved to listen to no compromise and to treat with 
Spain on the basis of absolnti- iii(U'i>endenee ft»r Cuba. 

"If Sjtain has power to exterminate us, then let iier convert tlie 
island into a va.s-t cemetery; if she has not and wishes to tenidnati- llie 
war before the whr)le country is reduced to ashes, then let her adopt i lie 
only measure that will i)ut an end to it and recognize our independence. 
Spain must know by this time tliat while there is a single living C\dian 
with digiufy — and there are many IJionsands of them — tjiere will not be 
jH'ace in Cuba, nor even hope of ii. 

"All good caus«'S must linally lriiiiii|ili, and <iui"s is a go<id ca.use. It 
is the cause of justice treated wilii contempt, of right suppressed by 
force, and of the dignity of a people olTended to the last ilegree. 

"We Cubans have a thousandfold m(»re reason in our endeavors to 
free ourselves from the Spaiiisli yoke than the people of the thirteen 
colonies had win ii in ITT'I tliey nise in anus against the Hiilisli govern- 
ment. 

Comparisons with the American Colonies. 

"Tile I MM i| lie (if I iiese ((iloliies W cle ill full elljoyuielll of all the rights 
of man; they had liberty of cotiscience, free<lom of s])eech, liberty of the 
press, the right of public nickeling and the right of free locomotion; 
they elected those who }y)verned them, they made their own laws and, 
in fact, enjoyed the blessings of self-government. They were not under 
the sway of a captain-general with arldtrary ])owers, who at his will 



THE CUBAN JXJNTA AND ITS ^VORIv. 149 

could imprisou llioin, deport tlieni to penal colonies, or order their execu- 
tion even \vitli(jut the semblance of a court-martial. They did not have 
to pay a permanent army and navj: that they might be kept in subjec- 
tion, nor to feed a swarm of liungij employes yearly sent over from the 
metropolis to prey upon the country. 

"They were never subjected to a stupid and crushing customs tariff 
which compelled them to go to the home markets for millions of mer- 
chandise annually, which they could buy much cheaper elsewhere; 
they were never compelled to cover a budget of $2G,000,000 or 
130,000,000 a year, without the consent of the tax-payers, and for the 
l)ur])oses of defraying the expenses of the army and navy of the op- 
pressor, to pay the salaries of thousands of worthless Eui'opean em- 
ployes, the whole interest on a debt not incurred by tiie colony, and 
other expenditures from which the island received no benefit whatever; 
for out of all those millions only the paltry sum of |T00,000 was ap- 
parently applied for works of internal improvement and one-half of 
this invariably went into the pockets of the Spanish employes. 

"We have thrown ourselves into the struggle advisedly and delib- 
erately; we knew what we would have to face, aaid we decided unflinch- 
inglj to persevere until we should emancipate ourselves from the Span- 
ish government. And we know that we are able to do it, as we know 
that we are competent to govern ourselves. 

"Among other proofs which could be adduced of the ability of the 
Cuban white and colored to rule themselves, is the strong organization 
of the Cuban revolutionary partj' in America, It is composed of more 
than 20,000 Cubans, living in different countries of the new world and 
formed into clubs, the members of which yeai'ly elect their leader. This 
organization has been in existence over five years, during which eveiy 
member has strictly discharged his duties, has respected without any 
interruption the regulations and obeyed the elected delegate loyally and 
faithfully. Among the members of the clubs there are several Span- 
iards, who enjoj' the same rights as the Cubans, and who live with them 
in fraternal harmony. This fact and that of the mam- Spaniards in- 
coiiiorated into our army, fully demonstrate that our revolution is not 
the result of personal hatred, but an uprising inspired only by the 
natural love of liberty and free institutions. The war in Cuba has for its 
only object the ovei*throw of Spanish power, and to establish an inde- 
pendent republic, under whose beneficent laws the Spaniards may con- 
tinue to live side bv side with the Cubans as members of the same com- 



150 THE CUliAN -HXTA AND ITS WOKK. 

muiiity iind citizens of tlie .saiiic iialidii. Tliis is oiir lu-djiraiuiiii' and wo 
strirtly adlu'ic to it. 

"Tiu' revolution is ix)werful and deeply rootetl iu the hearts of i In- 
Cuban people, and there is no Spanish power, no i)Ower in the wmld, 
that can stop its march. The waj", since fieueral Weyler took coniiiiand 
of the Sjianish army, has assumed a cruel character. His troops shoot 
till' t'ulian prisoners, j)ursue and kill the sick and wounded, assassinate 
the unarmed, and burn their hou.ses. The Cuban trooi)s, on their i)iut. 
destroy, as a war measure, tlie maciiinery and buildinus of the sunar 
jdaTitations and are hniily resolved not to leave one stone upcin Mimtln r 
durin;; their campaijiii. 

"I^et those who can i)ut an einl to this war rellect that our liberty is 
bein^ fjained with the bl(Kxl of thou.sands of Cuban victims, anioiit; 
whom is numbere<l Jose Marti, the apostle and martyr of our revolution. 
Let them consider that before the sacivd memory of this new re<leem(r 
there is not a sinj^le Cuban who ^^^ll withdraw from the work of eman- 
cijiation without feelin<; asluuned of abandoninj; the flajj; which on the 
24th of I'ebruary, 1S!I.">, was raised by the beloved master. 

"It is time for the Cuban i)<'oi)le to satisfy their just desire for a jihu c 
amouji the free nations of the world and let them not be accuse<l if to 
accomplish their nnlde ]iur|>ose they are obli-ictl to reduce to ashes llic 
Cuban land. Tonuis Estrada I'alnia." 



CHAPTER XVIII. 

KEY WEST AND THE CUBANS. 

Cuban Refugees iu Key ^^'est — Their Devotion io the Cause— Peculiarities 
of the Town — Odd Sights and Sounds — Filibusters and Their ^York — 
The First Authorized Expedition — It Is a Failure — The Second More 
Successful — Landing Supplies for the Insurgents — Captain Jose La- 
cret, and Some of His Adventures. 

The island of Ke}- West lies sixty miles south of Capo Sable, the 
most southerly point of the mainland of Florida, and is seven miles 
long' and from one to two miles broad. The city covere nearly one-half 
of the island and. has a population of about 25,000. Key AYest has been 
described as being- "to Cuba Avhat Gibraltar is to Ceuta, to the Gulf of 
Mexico what Gibraltar is to the Mediterranean." It is one of the chief 
naval stations of the United States and is strongly fortified. 

Tlie most important industry is the making of cigars, which give?; 
employment to thousands of Cubans, who make up a large majority of 
the population, and many of whom are refugees, charged wiili political 
crimes, with a price set upon their heads. One of the most important 
divisions of the Cuban Junta of the United States has its headquarters 
here. Almost eA'ery Cuban in Key West gives regularly a portion of bis 
earnings to the cause, and many cargoes of arms, ammunition and sup- 
plies have been sent to the insurgents by their brethren on this little 
island. 

The city is unique in many respects. It is made up of innumerable 
little wooden houses, without chimneys, but crowded in irregular 
groups. Many of the bouses have wooden shutters in place of glass 
windows. 

On most of the streets there are no sidewalks, but people stumble 
over the jagged edges of coral rock. There are a great number of public 
vehicles, and one can be bailed at any corner and engaged for 10 cents. 
Some of these carriages are quite respectable in appearance. They are 
generally double-seated affairs, which have been discarded in the north. 
The horses are wrecks, and they show by their appearance that fodder 
is dear and that they are not half fed. 

151 



153 KKV W i;ST AMI Till; (TKAXS. 

Uut' ol the .souuds of Kov \\ I'sl is tLr wliarkiuj; of ihe horses which 
draw the carriay;es aud the uuile.s whiih move the street cai's from phiee 
to plate. 

The street ears htok as if they had bi-eii dn<x up from the iiei^^hhor- 
hood of the jiyramids. Hopes are used for reius, and the only sub- 
stantial thinj; about the whole outfit is the <;reat rawhide whip, with 
whieh the street-ear driver labors incessantly. The people, as a rule, 
are opposed to excessive exertion, bnl they luiikc an excei)tiou iu the 
case t)f labor witii a whiji. 

Journalism, Climate and Dogs. 

The town has one struuiilinu newspajier, which is wtirthy of a better 
support. It is told of the etiitor that he came to Key West a barefooted 
boy from <le()rj;ia, aud worked his way up to his present eminent po- 
sition of instructor iu etiquette and ethics to the four hundred. 

Hundreds of dogs, eat.s, roosters, yoat.s, aud "razorbacks" run at 
large through the streets, and the three former combine to make night 
liideous. In the early evening the sound of negro meetings and jubila- 
tions jtredominates. Then the cats begin where the shouters leave ofT. 
Later, the dogs, sneaking and .sore-eyed, and more nunienuis tluin ;iny 
other species, take up tlie refrain. They how! an<I bark and keej) mi 
howling and barking, until sleeji seems impossible. At last, wiien the 
wakeful man thinks the row is over, the roosters, the meanest, skinniest, 
londest-nioutlie<l roosters in the world, continue the serenade until 

death seems a Welcnnie, especially tlie dcMlll of tile roostci'S. 

Negroes Alone are Patriotic. 

There is a strange mixture of rares at Key West, l)ul the negroes are 
the most ]>atriotic cla.ss. They alone celebrate the roiirth of July aud 
other national hcdiilays. Wiiile tlie town has its enlightened and re- 
sjiectable ]ieo]ile, it also has a shoddy class, whose ignorance of the rest 
of the world carries them to grotes(|iie extremes iu their efforts to jiro- 
claim their gn-atness. 

Kven in its schools Key West is peculiar. The schoolhouses are 
built like cigar factories. Mn<l each has mounted upon the roof the bell 
of an (dd locomotive. W'iien the school bells are ringing it is easy to 
(lose your eyes and imagine yourself in one of the great railway depots 
of the north. 



ivEY WEST AND THE CUBANS. 153 

The First Authorized Expedition. 

Prior to the commencement of our war with Spain the United States 
authorities kept a close watch on the Cubans in Key West, and made 
every effort to prevent the shipment of supplies to the insurgentSv But 
as soon as the coullict was begun there was a change in the policy and 
the government assisted the work in every possible way. The first ex- 
pedition was a failure. Under command of Captain Dorst of the United 
States army the transport steamer Gussie' sailed from Key West with 
two companies of infantrj.on board, in charge of 7,000 rifles and 200,000 
rounds of ammunition, intended for the insurgents of Pinar del Kio. 
The supplies were to be conveyed to General Gomez by a force of in- 
surgents encamped three miles back from the coast. 

But the cargo was not landed, for the reason that the insurgents 
were unable to meet the landing party at the rendezvous, and Captain 
Dorst was compelled to return to Key W^est with his cargo. The second 
attempt was more successful. Nearly 400 men, with a pack train and 
a large quantity of arms and ammunition, sailed on the Plant line 
steamer Florida from Key West, on the night of May 21. These men 
and the equipment constituted an expedition able to oper.ate independ- 
entlj' and to defend itself against any body of Spanish troops which 
might oppose it. 

The expedition was under the comnmnd of Captain Jose Lacret, 
formerly insurgent commander in Matauzas province. He assumed the 
direction of affairs immediately on the landing of the expedition. Un- 
til then General Joaquin Castillo was in control. 

In the landing of the expedition the United States ai'my was rep- 
resented by Captain J. A. Dorst, and Tomas Estrada Palma was repre- 
sented by J. E. Cartaya, who has been the landing agent of nearly every 
filibustering expedition for more than a j'ear. Messrs. Castillo, Cartaya 
and Dorst returned to Kej 'N^'est. Genei'al Julio Sanguilly, on his way 
to report to General Maximo Gomez, was also on the boat. 

Most Powerful of Them All. 

This was the most powerful anti-Spanish expedition sent to Cuba 
up to that date. About 300 of the men were Cubans, the others Ameri- 
cans. The engineer corps of tlie expedition was composed entirely of 
Americans under Aurelian Ladd. 

The men were dressed in canvas uniforms furnishcnl bv the Ignited 



\:a key wkst and the cruAxs. 

Slates govcruiiu'iil, aiul the cKiiiniissary dcpartiiuMit had ratitms t'lioujrh 
to last lifteeii days after the laudiiij;:. The i)ack train c«iiisist(Hl of 
si'veuty-livi* iiiuU's and twi'nty-livf hursi'S. The expedition earricnl 7,000 
rilli-s ami :>.ti(i(l, (!()(] rnnmls of anminnition foi* < Jeneral Calixto Uarcia. 

General Sanguilly's Return. 

(ii-neral Sanj^iiilly's retiuu In ("ulia is a n'iiiarl;aiile incident in iiis 
extraordinary career, llis j^alhiut s«'rvires in tlie Ten Years' War, liis 
arrest in Havana at the bey;iuninjr of the i)resent insurrection, his sen- 
tence to death and his relea.se at the intercession of Secivtar}' Sherman 
on a promise to remain uuttiide of Cuba have made him a conspicuous 
man. 

The expi-dition was convoyed by the cruiser Marblehead, the torjMMlo- 
boat destroyer Kajile and other \var.ship.s. Two youn^a-r brothei-s of 
the late (ieiieral Nestor Aranj;uren are ^A-ith tlie expedition. 

Some of Lacret's Adventures. 

When the pres«-nl r.'Vcduliun in Cuba bcLjan (ieneral .Jose l.an-ft 
.Mmliii, by which title he is pojtuJarly known, .scn^'ured i)a.s.sa}jje on tiie 
steamer Mascotte for Jamaica on his way to Cuba. Tlie Kn^ilisli ^uv- 
ernment had information re;;ardin<; I.ai itl's iMnvcinciits and jirevenlcd 
his sailing,' for Cuba from .Jamaica. He tiien went to Mexico and later 
to New Y(»rk. At tli<' latter ]»]ace lie consulte<l witii tiie junta and if- 
turned to Tam])a, Here in- ('iiii)arl<i-(| oii tiic sti-aiiK-r Olivette fur 
Havana in thi- jj;arb of a iniest. 

Still in lliis dis^^uise lie boarded a train for Sajrua la (Irande. A<- 
companyin;; him were a larjie number of Spanish stddiers. His beiiii^ 
hi;ihly i-ducated, a man of piod presemc and a "jtadn'" weic siinicieiit 
to };ive him entraii<e into Hie best .Spanish sen iely of Sa.i,nia la (irainle. 
La<-ret sto])iK*<l at the liiiesi hotel, and w lien in the cafe sat at the al- 
calde's rij^ht hand. 

After communicalin;,' wiili lie- insurgents the "paiire" suddenly <lis- 
appeared from tlie hotel. He joiiMMl the insiirf^ents, and, throwinj^ ofl' 
his jiriesllv dis;,'uise, has since perfornn-d valorous service for the cause 
of Cuban fiii-doin. He w:is Iransfi-iTed to the jirrtvince of Alatanzas 
soon after his arrival, and ids < areer there will fonn an interestin}^ chap- 
ter in I lie history of Cuba. From Mafanzas province he wa.s sent to the 
eastward as a delegate to the assembly held in I'uerto Principe last 
I'ebniarv, at which tin- new ''Dveiiiineiil was formed. I'roni this as- 



KEY WEST AND TUE CUIJAKS. 155 

sembly he was directed to come to this coiiulry as a bearer of dispatches 
to the junta. 

When the Florida, escorted by the Osceohi, drew up close to the 
shore at the place selected for the lauding, she sent scouts to see if all 
was clear. These scouts were greeted by Generals Feria and Rojas, with 
about 1,500 armed iusurgents. Therefore, far fi'om there being any hos- 
tile demonstration upon the part of the Spaniards, the landing of the 
expedition was in the nature of a triumpluil invasion. The Cubans, who 
were in waiting for the party, had a brass band and welcomed the new- 
comers with national airs. 

The work of unloading tlie cargo of the Florida was promptly begun 
and carried on by the 432 men composing the expedition. There was 
nothing in the nature of interruption and the work was soon finished. 

Had It All Their Own Way. 

While the cargo was being unloaded the Osceola, an auxiliary gun- 
boat, witli her guns ready for action, scouted about the vicinity looking 
for an enemy. But the Spaniards apparently had no suspicion of what 
was taking place. So easily was the dangerous luission accomplished 
that while some members of the party were getting the sup])lies ashore 
others were providing themselves with fruit, sugar and other products 
of the landing i)lace, a large stock of which was brought back for Key 
West friends. 

The mouient the work was concluded the Florida and the Osceola 
slipped awa^', leaving the insurgents to convey their re-enforcements 
into the interior, which was done without any casualty. 

The returning members of the Florida party brought with them sev 
eral hundred private letters, which give a complete insight into the 
conditions prevailing in the blockaded island. 



CHAPTER XTX. 

ANOTHER STROKE FOK FREEDOM. 

Tlie IV'{;inuiuf; of tlie Revolt — ^laitial Law Declared iu Santiago and lla. 
taiizas — Aii'ival of Caniiios — Tlic lUaiks as Soldiers — No Caste ricju- 
diees — (ieneral Sautooildes Killed — A Sturv of Maceo — ("anipos' ("aui- 
paifiu Fails — He Retuius to Sj»aiii. 

It was the intention of the insuriicnts to be^in ()i)eia1ions in tlie six 
jn'ovinces on the same date, but at the appointed time three of them 
failed to carry out the plan, and in only one was the asjx'et at all tlireat- 
euiug. In Havana and ilatanzas the Spanish ofhcials had no dillienlty 
in suppressiujj the insurrectionists, and the leader iu the former prov- 
ince, the editor of a newspaper, accepted a jiardon and icturued to his 
work. 

In Santiaj^o, however, which is thinly settled, tlie luovemeiit ijained 
j:round steadily. The landing of a party of revolutionists from San 
Domingo aroused the i)atriots, and were welcomed warmly, being sup- 
jdied with re-enforcements wherever they appeared. The government 
I)rofessed to be uu-rely annoyed, nothing more, aiul pretended to look 
upon the patriots as nu-re brigands. Calleja became alarmed at last 
when the determination of the insurgents became known, and jtro- 
claimed martial law in Santiago and Matanzas, and sent forces to both 
provinces. He couhl put only nine thousand men in the lield, however, 
and had only seven gunboats for coa.st duty at his command. The 
commissary arrangements were miserable, and fre(iuenlly caused the 
inlerrui>tion of impcu-lant nu)V(>nu'nts. The insurgents were most ubic]- 
uitows, ami would appear here ami there without the slightest warning, 
making raids on |ilautalions, which they ])lumlered, and from which 
they (-nliced away the laborers, disapp<'aring in the swamjjs, where i)ur- 
snit was imp«(ssible, and apjieariug agai)i in a day or so in some unex- 
pected s]iot, and repeating the sauu' maneuvers. In this manner they 
terrorized the loyalists, and ruined their jirosiwcts of raising a crop, 
and as many depended solely upon the soil for their living this metiiod 
of warfare struck them a vital blow. 

At the end of March, 1895, Antonio .Maceo, witii sixteen comrades, 

Lie 



ANOTHEK STROKE FOK FKKEDOM. IS? 

sailed from Costa liica and lauded at Baracoa, ou the eastern end of the 
island. Thej were surprised by a Spanish cavalry, but kept up an 
iutermittent tight for several hours, when Maeeo numaged to elude his 
enemies and escape. After living in the woods for ten days, making his 
way westward, he met a party of rebels, was recognized and welcomed 
with great enthusiasm. lie took command of the insurgents in the 
neighborhood and began to get recruits rapidly. He engaged in sev- 
eral sharp encounters with the Spanish and did such effective service 
that the moral effect was noticed immediately. He and his brother 
Jose were made generals. 

About the middle of April Maximo Gomez and Jose Marti landed 
from San Domingo at about the same point where the Maceos had 
landed. For days they were obliged to secrete themselves in a cave on 
account of the presence of the enemy's pickets, but tliey finally reached 
an insurgent camp, and Gomez entered upon his duties as commandei'- 
in-chief. The insurgents now had an experienced leader at their head, 
re-enforcements poured in, and they soon had a force of six thousand 

men. 

Arrival of Campos. 

The governmeut had issued new calls for troops, and in April no less 
than twenty-five thousand men were raised. Martinez Campos came 
over from Spain, arriving at Santiago on April 10, and went at once to 
Havana, where he relieved Calleja as captain-general. Campos was a 
veteran, and expected to crush the insurrection at once, but day by day 
his task grew more difficult. 

Gomez and Maceo, instead of being driven hither and thither, led 
Campos a dance, and he was prevented from solidifying the two trochas 
he had formed. Gomez never attempted pitched battles or sieges, but 
harassed the enemy in every way possible, cutting off their convoys, 
picking them off in detail, getting up night alarms, and in every way 
annoying them. His hardened soldiers, especially the negroes, could 
stand hardships and still keep in good fighting condition, but with the 
Europeans, what between yellow fever and the constant alarms of war, 
it was a different story. No European soldier could live under the hard- 
ships and exposures which seemed to put life into the negro soldiers. 

No Caste Prejudices. 

It must be understood that there is no caste feeling between the 
negro and the pure-blooded Cuban. They march, eat and sleep side 



158 AXOTIIKK STKOKE FOR FREEDOM. 

by side. Moreover, the uegroes make excellent soldiers, with finer 
idiysique than the Cubans themselves, and equal powers of endurance. 

The Cuban is .small in stature compartxl to the American soltlier, 
but he is -well set up, wiiy, and apparently has unlimited stayiuu 
jiowers. He freiiuenlly lives on one meal a day, and Ihat a poor one, 
but he shows no signs whatever of being ill-fed; in fact, he seems Id 
thrive on it, and he has an uncomfortable habit of marching six hours 
in the morning on an empty stomach, wiiich would be fatal to the or- 
dinary Anglo-Saxon. 

About the lii'st of July, Maceo, still in the province of Santiago, con- 
centrated the forces in the llolguin district and moveil against Bayamo, 
capturing one provision train after another that were en route to that 
l)lace. Campos took fifteen hundred nu'n, with tieueral Santocildes sec- 
ond in command, and went to the ndief of Bayamo. About the middle 
of July he was attacked several miles from Bayamo by Maceo with 
tw('nty-.seven hundred rebel.s. He and his entire staft narrowly escaped 
ca])1ure, and only the bravery of (leneral S;intocildes averted this calas- 
tidl>lie. The bi-ave general lost his life and the Spaniards were forced 
to Hy, after having fought for five houi.s, surrounded on all sides by the 
rebel.s. They finally made their esca])e to Bayanu), the rear guard c(»v- 
ering their retreat with great difficulty. 

Flor <'rombet had fallen in battle .si-veral weeks before this fight 
and .M;irii had been killed in an insignificant fight at Dos Uios. t«<mu'/. 
had passed into Camaguay to add fire to the insurrection and Maceo 
had been left in commauil in the province of Santiago. To him was 
Cami)os indel»led for his defeat. He escajK'd capture as if by intuilion. 
A new snare had been spread for him by Maceo after the death of Santo- 
cildes, and he was already witliin lis meshes, when, intuitively divining 
the situation, he came to an about face and lle(l to Bayamo by an unused 
roiid. covered by impassable lliicUels in the rear of M:iceo's victorious 
troojjs. 

The Sjtaniards were nipidly re-eiiloiced alter- ilie escape to Bayamo, 
ami Maci-o, with (Jiiiiiiiii Bandeio. he-aii to fall back to his impregnable 
UM. iinlaiii lelreal al .F.-iralniiea. This was in the lieart of Santiago de 
< 'nba, fivi-r a Iniiidred ndles east of I'.a.vaino and twenty-fivp miles north- 
east of the port of Santiago. His wai-woiii army needed rest, recruits, 
and supi)lie.s. Once in his mountain fastness, he was perfectly secure, 
MS no Spanish army wouhl trust itself in the rocky range. News of his 
movements had reached Saiitiag<i and a str<'nuous effort was being 



ANOTHER STROKE FOR FREEDOM. 159 

made to head Iiim off at San Luis, a railroad town fifteen miles north- 
west of that city. Nothing, however, escaped the obsen-ation of the 
Cuban general. AVith wonderful prescience he anticipated the move- 
ments of the Spaniards. Uis troopers were armed with machetes and 
the infantry with rifles and ammunition captured at Paralejo. Bandera 
commanded this band of blacks. The march had been terrific, and 
horses and men were nearly fagged. With sparse supplies the pace 
had been kept up for hours. The sun had gone down and the moon 
was flooding the fronds of the palms with pale, silvery light. Maceo 
held a short conference with Quintin Bandera, and not long aftei^ward 
the blacks wheeled in column and disappeared. 

Meantime the Cuban cavalry continued its coui-se. By midnight it 
had reached Cemetery Hill, overlooking the town of San Luis. The 
moon was half way down the sky. Maceo sat upon his horse sun-eying 
the scene below him long and silently. The little town was aglow with 
electric lights and the whistle of locomotives resounded in the valley. 
Over three thousand Spanish troops were quartered in the town and 
their movements were plainly discernible. Trains were arriving hourly 
from Santiago, bearing strong re-enforcements. Through a field-glass 
Maceo watched the stirring scene. Tie turned the glass beyond the 
town and gazed thi-ough it patiently, betraying a trace of anxiety. Final- 
ly he alighted and conferred with Colonel Miro, his chief of staff. A 
moment afterward came the order to dismount. Three hundred troop- 
ere obeyed and were about to tether their horses when they were called 
to attention. A second order reached their ears. They were told to 
stand motionless, with both feet on the ground, and to await furtlier 
orders with their right hands on their saddles. In the moonlight be- 
neath the scattered palms they stood as silent as if petrified. 

A Story of Maceo. 

Among them there was a newspaper cori*espondent who had known 
Maceo many years, and who had partetl with him a.t Port Limon, in 
Central America, a few months before. He had joined the column just 
after the battle of Paralejo. In obedience to orders he stood with his 
arm over the back of his horse, blinking at the enlivening scene below 
him. Exhausted by (he day's march, his eyes closed and he found it 
impossible to keep awake. A moment later he fastened the bridle to 
his foot, wrapped himself in his rubber coat, placed a satchel under his 
head, and fell asleep in the wet grass. The adjutant soon awoke him, 



KiO ANOTIIKIJ STKOKK FOK FKEEDOM. 

iflliny him that he bad better get uji, a» thej- were goiug to bavi- a iiyhl. 
lie tbauked the adjuiaut, who told him there were over tbree thou.sand 
Spaui.sh soldiers iu ban Luis aud that it was surrouuded with fourteen 
blockhouses. The corresi)oudent soou curled himself on the grass a 
seeoud time aud was iu a sound slumber, wheu he was again aroused 
by the adjutant, who told him he was in positive danger if he persisted 
iu disobeying the order of Ceneral Maoeo. A third time his heavy eye- 
lids closed and he was in a dead sleej), when startled by a peremptory 
shake. Jesus Mascons, ilaceo's secretary, stood over him. "Get up 
this instant," said he. "The general wants to see you immediately," 

In a few seconds the correspondent was on his feet. The whistles 
were still blowing and the electric lights still glowing in the valley, aud 
the moon was on the horizon, lie went for^vard iu some tre])idation, 
fancying that the general was going to ujtbraid him f(»r disobeying his 
orders, lie was surprise<l to find him very pleasant. Maceo always 
spoke in a low tone, as he had been shot twice through the lungs. 

"Are you not hungry?" he asked. 

"No," the correspondent replied, wondering what was in the wind. 

"I thouglit ])ossib!y you might wantsonu-thing to eat,"(ieneral Maceo 
said, with a smile. "I have a boiled egg here and I want to divide it 
with you." As he uttered these Avords he drew o>it his machete aud ciit 
the egg straight through the center. Passing half of it to the conx?- 
spondent, he said: "Share it; it will do you good." The newspaper 
man thanked the general and they ate the egg in silence. lie said after- 
ward that tiic iiH ititril reminded him of (Jeneral Marion's breakfast 
with a British ollicci-. He IkhI read the incident in Peter Parley's his- 
tory (tf tiie revolution, wIkii a sdioolboy. Marion raked a baked sweet 
jjotato out of the ashes of a canii) fire and divided it with his l?ritish 
guest. The ofVicer regretted the altscnce of salt, and the corr('s])ond('nt 
said he exjiericnrcd t In- same regret wlien lie ale liis p(irt ion of ( ieui'ia! 
JIaceo's egg. 

After munching the egg both men sat for some time observing the 
stirring scene in the valley below them. The moon had gone down, but 
in the glow of the electric lights they coidd see that the activity among 
the Spaniards was as great as ever. Suddenly Maceo turned to the 
corresixmdent and said abruptly: "Were you asleep when Jesus calletl 
you?" 

"Oh, no," the rorresixiudeiil rei)lieil, "I was not asleep; I was only 
just tire<l — that was all." 



\. 



-o4>' 




ANOTHEK STROKE FOR FREEDOM. lUl 

The general looked at him searchingly and then said: "Don't worry; 
it is all right. We are going throngh that town in a few minutes. There 
may be a tierce fight, and you will need a clear head. The egg will give 
you strength." 

Within twenty minutes the little columns of three hundred men 
were on the move. They led their horses down the hill a.bout an hour 
before daybreak, with the general in the lead. Silently and stealthily 
they entei'ed the outskirts of the town. The columns passed two block- 
houses without being observed and at the break of day were beyond the 
town on the main road to Banabacoa, Meantime the Spaniards had 
discovered them. The to^n was aroused and a hundred and fifty Span- 
ish cavalry headed the pursuit. The road wound tlirough fields of 
cane. A strong column of Spanish infantry followed the cavalry. 
Maceo held his men in reserve and continued his march, the Spanish 
troopers trailing after them like so many wildcats. 

Suddenly, to their astonishment, Quintin Bandera's infantry arose 
on either side of the road and almost annihilated the pursuing column. 
Those who escaped alarmed the columns of infantry, who returned to 
San Luis to fortify themselves. Maceo and Bandera camped on the 
estate of Mejorana, about six miles away. It was here tliat Marti, 
Gomez, the tno Maceos, Crombet, Guerra, and Rabi met not long before 
this to inaugurate the new revolution. Bandera and Maceo found 
plenty of provisions at the estate, but no bread. A small Cuban boy 
was sent to the Spanish commander at San Luis with a note i-equesting 
him to be so kind as to send some bread to visitors at the Mejorana plan- 
tation. The boy delivered the note and the Spanish commander asked 
who sent him. Without a moment's hesitation he replied: "General 
Maceo." The Spanish official langhed and replied: "Very well, a sup- 
ply of bread will be sent. It will not be necessary for Maceo to come 
after it." What is more remarkable is the fact that Maceo told the 
correspondent beforehand that the bread would be sent, as the Span- 
iards had been so frightened bj- Bandera on the previous day that they 
did not want to invite another attack. That very evening the boy re- 
turned, conve;\-ing many bags of bread. The Spaniards remained within 
the town until Maceo had rested his army and departed for Jarahuica. 

Campos' Campaign Fails. 

Before the end of the year Campos' campaign was admitted to be a 
failure. He could not depart from his humane policy, however, and at 



1G2 



ANOTHER STROKE FOR FREEDOM. 



the befiinninfr of tho year ISOH bo returnod to S])ain. Both sides now 
kad in the ti<-hl three times as iiiauyuieii as duriii<ithe Ten Years' War, 
the iiisurjients havin<i from fifty. tJionsand to sixty-tive thousand, and 
the ftoverument two huudreil thousand, including sixty thousand vol- 
unteers. 



CHAPTER XX. 
JOSE MARTI AXD OTHER CUBAN HEROES. 

A Cuban Patriot — A Life Devoted to the Cause — First Work for Cuba — 
Banished From His Native Land — He Returns to Fight for Freedom 
— His Death — Maximo (iomez, General-in-Chief of the Cuban Forces — 
His Methods of Warfare — Antonio Maceo, the Colored Commander — 
Other ililitary Men of Note in the Cuban Army. 

When the day comes that Cuba shall take her jjlace among the 
free and independent nations of the earth, Jos^ Marti, who probably 
did more than any other one man to arouse the insurgents to make 
the final struggle for liberty, will not be among them to share their 
triumphs. Stnick down by a Spanish bullet, almost at the commence- 
ment of the last reTolutiou, he sleeps beneath the southern skies, and 
neither the clash of swords nor the thunder of the cannon over his 
grave can distrub his rest. 

Born in Havana, the sou of a Spanish army officer, he was taught 
from his childhood days that the friends of Cuba's cause were rebels, 
deserving of death. But as he grew older he commenced to think for 
himself, and the more he learned of Spanish robbeiy, injustice and 
cruelty, the more determined he became to devote his life to the cause 
of his native land. 

While yet a mere boy, he began the work. He published clan- 
destine circulars, he wrote a play in which he depicted the wrongs 
inflicted upon the island people; "Free Cuba" was his thought by day, 
his dream at night. Through imprisonment and exile, in Spain, Mex- 
ico and the United States, every action of his life wa.s guided by the 
one ambition. 

On April 14th, 1S95, in company with Maximo Gomez, Marti 
landed on the coast of Cuba, at Cobonico. His coming gave the insur- 
gents new courage, and their numbers increased rapidly. He was 
made a Major General of the army, and in company with Gomez, who 
had seen service in the previous campaigu, he led a number of suc- 
cessful attacks against detachments of the Spanish forces. 

163 



1G4 .lUSK .MAirn AND OTIIKH crUAN HEROES. 

After orj^aiiiziiij,' an cxiH-^liiidii tli;it was to iiianli to PiuTto I'rin- 
tijx' under (Joniez's ctnuiuaiul, Marti intended to {jo lx> the seaeoast in 
order to return abroad and continue his work theiv in favor of the 
seeessionist revolution. 

About this time a man named Ciiacon was raptured bv Colonel 
Sandoval, of the Spanish forces, and letters from the rebels were found 
in his possession, and some money with which he waii goinj;; to make 
l»urchases for the insurgent chiefs. This man gave inftn-mation re- 
garding the enemy's location, and acting upon this knowledge, Colonel 
Sandoval, on the 19th of May, brought his army to La lirija. Tiie 
llernan Cortez squadron, under Captain Capa, was in vanguard, and 
attacked a band commande<l by Hcliito, wliidi had come to nu'et the 
column. 

When Colonel Sandoval heard of it, he advanced u]> to the jilain 
f)f Dos Kios, and orderi'd his infantry to ojjen lire. A spirited combat 
ensued, with fatal ri*sul(s to the insurgents, as the S|>anisli gui<le, 
Antonio Oliva, running up to help a soldier who was suii-(Minded by 
a large gi'oup of the enemy, tired his rille at a, horseman, who fell to 
the ground, and was found to be .lose Maiti. Cai>tiiiu Knrique Satue 
was the first to recftgnize him. A light took jilace upon the sjHtt, the 
rebels trying hard to carry the cor|tse away, but they were i'e|>ulsed. 
Ma.ximo (ioinez was woun<led in the enc(Mint<'r, which for some days 
led to the belief that he too Ava.s dead. According to one narrative, 
Ciomez was in the midst of the battle from the beginning, and while 
hurrying to recover the corpse of Marti, he was slightly wounded. 
Others say that the famous chief, had already taken leave of .Marii to 
go to Cauiagm-y, when, passing at some distance from Dos Kios, he 
heard tiie re|>orl of musketry. lie imagined wjiat was happening, 
and ran to rescue tiie civil ctiief of liie nvolulion, but when he arrived, 
Marti had Ixh-u killed. (Jomez being wounde<l, IJoricro took him on 
his own horse, and in this manner earrieii him to a ])lace of safety. The 
SjKiniard.s, after tlieir vi<tniy, ni(>\ed to llemanganagaus, where tJie 
corpse of Marti was endtalnieil. I'rom tlie latter town it. was taken 
to Santiago de Culta, ami while on the way there, llie troops had to 
repel an attack from the rebels, who ijitende<l to cai-ry ofT the collin. 
On arriving at the city, the remains of .Marti wei-e exhibile<l at the 
eenietery. <'<ilonel Saufloval |)resided over the funeral ceremonies^ 
and the dea<l leader was given a decent resting place. Here are San- 
doval's words on the occasifui: 



JOSE MARTI AND OXnEll CUBAN HEROES. 165 

GfUtlemeii: — In pit'Seucc of tlio corpise of liiiii who iu life wiis Josi- 
Mai'ti, and in the absence of any relative or friend who might speak over his 
remains such words as are customary, I request you not to consider these 
remains to be those of an enemy any more, but simply tliose of a man, car- 
ried by political discords to face S{)anish soldiers. From the moment the 
spirits have freed themselves of matter they are sheltered and magnanimously 
pardoned by the Almighty, and the abamloued matter is left in our care, for 
us to dispel all rancorous feelings, and give the corpse such Chrislian burial 
as is due to the dead. 

Maximo Gomez, the General-in-Chief. 

The General-iii-Chief of the Cubaji forces is Maximo Gom(^, a man 
of scholarly attainments, great intellect, and long expeinence iu mili- 
tary affairs. Formerly an officer of 8paiu, be explains bis present posi- 
tion in the following words: 

"When I gave np, in 1S()S, my uniform and rank as a Major of the 
Spanish Army, it was because I knew that if I kept them I would have 
some day to meet my own children in the field, and combat against 
their just desire for Hberty. Now, with mv many years, I have come to 
lead and counsel the new generation to ultimate victory." 

Of his methods in war, Thomas Alvord says: 

"General Gomez never has more than 300 or 400 men with him. 
His favorite camp is near Arroyo Blanco, on a high plateau, difficult 
to approach, and covered with dense thicket. He posts his outer pick- 
ets at least three miles away, in directions from which the enemy 
may come. The Spaniards, whenever possible, march by road, and, 
with these highways well guarded, Gomez sleeps secure. He knows 
that his pickets will be informed by some Cuban long before the Span- 
ish column leaves or passes the nearest village to attack him. A shot 
from the farthest sentry causes little or no excitement in Gomez's 
camp. The report throws the Spanish column into fears of attack or 
ambush, and it moves forward very slowly and carefully, T^vo pick- 
ets at such a time have been known to hold 2,000 men at bay for a 
whole day. If the column presses on, and General Gomez hears a 
shot from a sentinel near by, he will rise leisurely from his hammock 
and give orders to prepare to move camp. He has had so many expe- 
riences of this kind that not until he hears the volley-shooting of the 
oncoming Spaniards will he call for his horse, give the woi\l to march, 
and disappear, followed by his entire force, into the tropical under- 
brush, which closes like curtain behind him, leaving the Spaniards to 



166 JOSE MAHTI AND OTHER fTHAN HEROES. 

discover a deserted caiiip, withdiit tlic slit;lilcst trace of ilic jiatli taken 
by its recent occnpants. 

"Sometimes (lomez will move only a mile or two. The Spaniards 
do not usnally <^\(y chase. If they tlo, (Jomez takes a keen delijilit in 
leadinjj- them iu a circle. If he can throw them off by nij^iitfail, lie 
goes to sleep in his c-amp of the morning, happier tlian if he had won 
a battle. The Si)aniai*ds learn nothing throngh such experiences. 
Gomez varies the game occasionally by marching directly towards the 
rear of the foe, and there, reinforced by niiicr insnrgent bands of the 
neighborhood, falling nixju the colnmn and ]>iinisliing it sevi-rcly. 
While his immediate force is bnt a handful, tlie (ienerai can call to 
his aid, in a short time, ncai-ly (I.IMMI men." 

A Colored Commander. 

As soon as the rebellion had assumed such i>roportions as to make 
it ])ossible to arrange a regular military organization among the insur- 
gents, Antonio Maceo was made the second in command, under (Jen 
eral (Jomez, with the title of Lieutenant (Ienerai. lie had risen from 
the ranks to the position of Major (Ienerai in il:e Ten Years' war. 
where, notwithstanding his colored blood, lie had shown unusual abil- 
ity as a leader of men. Sons of ihw lii-st families of Cuba were proml 
to enlist under his baniiei-, and to recognize him a.s I heir sujierior 
oflicer. Space is devoted iu another i>ai't of this volume to an .•iccoiuit 
of tlie treacherous manner of his death. 

The following letter, written by him to (Ienerai Weyler, soon aftei' 
the arrival of the latter named in Cidia, shows that he could light willi 
his jieu as well txs with his sword: 

IJe|iiilp|ic (if {'iili:i, Invadiii;,' .\iiny. 

S.c.iiid Coii.s. Cayajalios. l''ei). 'J7. IS!)!"., 
(leneriil \'aleri;uio Weyler, lla\aii;i: 

In Hjiite of all that the press has |nililislie(l in rejiard to you. 1 have never 
been willing to ^.'ive it belief anrl lo base my jiidj,TU<'nt of vonr conduct on its 
statements; such an accumidation of ati-ocities. so many ci-inies re]iu;;iiant 
and dishonoring to any nuin of honor. 1 thought it imjKissible for a soldier 
holding your hi^h rank to commit. 

TlicHc a(-ciisations seemed lo me rather to be made in bad I'aitli. ov (o be 
the ntleranccH of jicrsonal enmity, and I exjiected that yon would take care to 
give (lie lie in due form to your detractors, rising to the Iiei;;lit recpiired of a 
j;entleitian. and saving yourself from aii\ imput.ition of that kiiul, liv merely 



JOSE MARTI AND OTHER CUBAN HEROES. 167 

adopting in the treatment of the wounded and prisoners of war, the ijcnerons 
(.oiirse that has been pursued from the beginning by the revolutionists 
towards the Spanish wounded and prisoners. 

But, unfortunately, Spanish dominion must always be accompanied by 
infamy, and although the errors and wrongful acts of the last war seemed 
to be corrected at the beginning of this one, to-day it has become manifest 
that it was only by closing our eyes to invariable personal antecedents and 
incorrigible traditional arbitrariness that we could have imagined Spain 
would forget forever her fatal characteristic of ferocity towai'ds the defense- 
less. But we cannot help believing evidence. In my march during the period 
of this campaign I see with alarm, with horror, how the wretched reputation 
you enjoy is contirmed, and how the deeds that disclose your barbarous irri- 
tation are repeated. What! must even the peaceful inhabitants (I say noth- 
ing of the wounded and prisoners of war), must they be sacrificed to the rage 
that gave the Duke of Alva his name and fame? 

Is it thus that Spain, through you, returns the clemency and kindness 
with which we, the redeemers of this suffering people, have acted in like cir- 
cumstances? What a reproach for yourself and for Spain! The license to 
burn the huts, assassinations like those at Nueva Paz and the villa El Gato, 
committed by Spanish columns, in particular those of Colonels Molina and 
Vicuna, proclaim you guilty before all mankind. Your name will be forever 
infamous, here and far from here, remembered with disgust and horror. 

Out of humanity, yielding to the honorable and generous impulses which 
are identitied with both the spirit and the tendency of the revolution, I shall 
never use reprisals that would be unworthy of the reputation and the power 
of the liberating army of Cuba. But I nevertheless foresee that such abom- 
inable conduct on your part and on that of your men, will arouse at no dis- 
tant time private vengeances to which they will fall victims, without my 
being able to prevent it, even though I should punish hundreds of innocent 
persons. 

For this last reason, since war should only touch combatants, and it is 
inhuman to make others suffer from its consequences, I invite you to retrace 
your steps, if you admit your guilt, or to repress these crimes with a heavy 
hand, if they were committed without your consent. At all events, take care 
that no drop of blood be shed outside the battle field. Be merciful to the 
many unfortunate citizens. In so doing you will imitate in honorable emula- 
tion our conduct and our proceedings. Yours, ' A. MACEO. 

This letter could have been written by none but a brave and honor- 
able soldier, resolved to present the cause of the oppres.se<l non-com- 
batants, even when he probably knew that his appeal was powerless 
to lessen their sufferine;s in the slightest degree. 



I(i8 JU.SE MA1:T1 and OTIIKIJ cri'.A.N IIKKOES. 

Love and War. 

Anioiip: tlu' many brave leaders of the iiisiir<,fents fliere is perliaps 
none who has sIidwu more heroism than yoiniji' l)e Koban. After the 
breakinji: ont of the revolntion he was one of the lirst to join the stand- 
ard of independence. At that time he was eujjafjed to be married, yet 
with him the call of duty was paramount over every selfish considera- 
tion. After havin<; seiTed for some months with conspicuous credit, 
he was sent with his command into the neijjhborhood of his fiance. 

The men hitherto, it may be imaiiiued, had not paid much atten- 
tion to their ajijunirance, but now tiiere was a. rejjular conventional 
dress parade. A barber was reciuisitiimed, accoutrements weiv fur- 
bisiied nj), and weather-beaten sombreros were ornamented with bril- 
liant ribbons. When tlie nK'tamoi-]iliosis was complete, De Hobau 
phued himself at the head of his dasliinj^ troop, and went in state to 
call ujton the hidy of his afTections. 

His march was a txiumitli, as everywhere he was attended by 
( rowds of enthusiastic people, who had Um>!; known him, and wlio 
now hailed him as a distinjjuished chamjjion. llow he sped in ids 
wooinjj may be <rathered from the fact that an ordeily was soon dis- 
jialclied for tiie villa cura, and that there was a W(Ml<Iin<i which fairly 
rivaled that of Camacho, so often and so fondly recalled by the re- 
nowned Sancho. Since then the Senora d«> Kobau has accompanied 
her liusi»and thron;,diout the camjraijfn, sharing the hard fare and the 
dan<iers of the men, and adding; another to the n<d)le band of i)atriotic 
Cnltan women, wliit vie with their husbands juid brothers in lidelity to 
tlx-ir iiativ(.- land. 

Other Commanders of Note. 

The cause has many other brave leaders, amonp whom may be 
meiilioni'tl (ieneral Cali.xto (iariia, General Seralin Sanchez, Fran- 
cisco Corrillo, and .To.se Maria IJodriffuez. They are all veterans of the 
war of ISClS-ISTK, and are ready to sacinfice their lives in the struggle 

(nv iiixTtV. 



CHAPTEIi XXI. 

DESPERATE BATTLES \\'ITH MACHETE AND RIFLE. 

The Sword of Cuba — Battle Cry of the Rt'volutionists — Cavalry Charges — 
The Strategies of War — Haiid-to-Haud Encouuters — ^ilaeeo at the 
Front — Barbarities of the Spanish Soldiers — Americans in the Cuban 
Army — A Fight for Life — A Yankee (Uinner — How a Brave Man Died. 

There is a storj' told of a great Eomau General who, after having 
conquered in many battles, beat Ms STVord into a plowshare, and 
turned from war's alarms to the peaceful pursuit of agriculture. The 
Cuban has reversed the storj'. When he left his labors in the forests 
and fields to fight his oppressors, he caiTied with him the implement 
with which he had cut the sugar cane on his plantation, and made 
paths through dense tropic vegetation. The machet'e is the sword 
of the Cuban soldier, and it will be famous forever. Its blade is of 
tempered steel, curved slightly at the end, with one edge sharp as a 
razor. It has a handle of horn, and is carried in a leather scabbard, 
attached to a narrow belt. 

The weapon in the hands of one who understands its use is terribly 
effective. Instances have been known where rifle barrels have been 
cut in two by it, and heads have been severed from their bodies at a 
single stroke. Its name, shrieked in a wild ferocious way, is the bat- 
tle crj- of the insurgents, and when shotited from an hundred throats, 
it carries with it so awe-inspiring a sound, that it is little wonder that 
the enemy is stricken with fear, for it means in reality- "war to the 
knife." 

Cavalry Charges. 

The Cubans are among the most skillful and daring rough riders 
of the world, the equals of the cowboys of our western States, and the 
far-famed Cossacks of Russia. The horses' backs have been their cra- 
dles, and here they possess a decided advantage over their Spanish 
foes, who know as little of the equestrian art as they seem to under- 
stand of other's rights, or the amenities of war. A mounted band of 

169 



170 BATTLES V\ITI1 .MACHETE AND RIFLE. 

insuryi'Uls, riiKhiii'; dowu ou a (k'tiuliiiu*ut of the eueiuy, waviii"^ aluft 
the teiTible machete, will carry with them terror ami death, ami eou- 
quer twice their uiimber. 

The heroic mulatto brothers, Antonio ami Jose Maceo, adopted this 
manner of ti<:jhtinj; ou every jxtssible ticca.sion, and it is a coincidence 
worthy of note that they both met their death while leading machete 
charj.^es aj,^ainst Ihcii- luitcd foes. 

Lack of Ammunition in the Cuban Ranks. 

The lack of ammunition is one of the weaknesses of the insurjjents. 
C'ourajie, ability and men they possess in abundance, but the lack of 
cartridjies has interfered with many of their best laid plans, and has 
often prevented them from availinji' themselves of favorable ojtportuni- 
ties. Three or four roiimls a man is nothing in action, esjK'cially when 
the Sjianiards are always so abundantly supj>li(Hl. However they arc 
deternnned, and as Si)anish incapacity becomes daily more apparent, 
they feel that it is (tnly a questi(»u of a few months until the cause for 
which they have so lony and bravely foujjht will be gloriously won. 

Maceo at the Front. 

Within three months of liie time thai (iomez and Maceo lande<l at 
IJaracoa they had all Santiago and Puerto I'rincijH^ in a state of insur- 
rection. They started otit with comparatively a handful of men. The 
most reliable siMirces agree that there were not more than ."{OO, but 
they were quickly joined by thousands of Cubans, who brought out 
from hiding places anns ami ammunition which they had been collect- 
ing and <onceaIing for years. 

(Jeneral Campos, (he Spanish commander, hiu\ dwlared that Puerto 
Principe would never ris«' against Spain, an<l he proposed .at once a 
plan to make it doubly sure, lie pi-ocun'd sjXM-ial conc(»ssions from 
Madrid for the foreign railroads, iwrniilling them to imiK)rt iron bridges 
t(» rcj>lace tlu-ir wooden structures, and jdedging tlu;m .*2(),000 a month 
until they had extended their lines and made connections to complete 
a continuous road thmugh the country, using the money to emidoy the 
natives. This was to insure the jieace of Puerto Principe and Santa 
Clara, both considered conservative, and to prevent the people joining 
the rev(»lulionary party. 



BATTLES WITH MACHETE AND RIFLE. 171 

After the plan was announced, the revolutionists burned out the 
wooden bridges, tore up the tracks in manj- places, and the roads have 
been, for all pr&ctical purposes, in their hands ever since. Campos, 
meantime, to prevent Gomez moving eastward, placed 10,000 troops 
on the border between the provinces of Puei"to Principe and Santiago, 
but Gomez crossed the line on May 19th, after a battle at Boca del Dos 
Kios, where a loss was suffered in the death of General Marti, which 
was so gi'eat a. blow to Cuba that Campos announced that the "death 
blow to the bandits had been struck." 

In Puerto Principe Gomez captured eveiy town he attempted to 
take, among them Alta Gracia, San Jerouimo and Coscorro. He took 
Fort El Mulato, and in all the places secured large quantities of ammu- 
nition. So enthusiastic was his reception in the provinces of Puerto 
Pi'incipe and Santa Clara that in the latter 400 Spanish volunteers 
joined him with their arms. 

The most important battle of the summer occuiTed at Bayamo in 
July, just as Gomez was near the Spanish line between Santa Clara 
and Puerto Principe, where, in an engagement between the two 
armies, with about 3,000 men on either side, the Spanish forces were 
completely routed. 

From that time on through the summer and far into the autumn, 
every day was marked by skirmishes, the taking of -important places, 
and the threatening of the larger towns. It kept the Spanish columns 
moving constantly, and the exjwsure in the rainy season killed thou- 
sands. 

Maceo now separated his forces from Gomez's command, and 
marched westward, fighting as he went, and everywhere meeting with 
success. He established the new government in the cities and towns 
of Mantua, San Cristobal, Eemates, Palacios, Paso Real de San Diego, 
Guane, Consolacion del Sui", Pilotos, Alouso de Eojas, San Luis, San 
Juan y Martinez, and others of less importance. 

Pinar del Kio City, the capital of the province, was the only city of 
importance that held out, but it was cut off with communication with 
its port. Colon, and was short of provisions. One supply sent by the 
Spanish for its relief, 100,000 rations, fell into Maceo's hands. 

In San Cristobal the Spanish flag on the government building was 
replaced by the emblem of the new republic, a mayor and city officials 
were appointed, resolutions were adopted by the new authorities, and, 
after all the arms in the town had been collected, Maco remained a 



17? battles; \\lTn MACnETE AND RIFLE. 

day to rest his men luid liurst's, ami UKivcd on ilir folldwiiif: niorninj; at 
daybreak. 

(it'iu'nils Navarro and Luqiic wert' orderi^ to crush the insur^'cut 
army at all hazard.s. Their combiuml fortes »onsi.sted of 5,000 infan- 
try, 200 cavalry, and 11 pieces of artillery. After a two-days' march 
they were joined by General Arizon's command, which had encoun- 
tered Maceo's rear guard the previous day, with disastrous results. 

Near Quivera Ilacha, Navarro's skirmishers encountered a small 
band of insurgents, and fearing that all of Maceo's army was near, 
lines of battle were quickly fonncnl. The engagement lasted for less 
than half an hour, when the insurgent forces withdrew, without 
serious losses on either side. (Jeneral Navarro linally discovereil that 
the principal part of Maceo's forces was at the Armendores estate, ajid 
the seat of operations was changed, (leneral Luque succeeded Navarro 
in command, and several days now passed without any conllict of note. 
Finally Luque led a charge upon Maceo's vanguanl. in ilic vicinity of 
I'inar del Kio, but the moment the attack was made he found himself 
under fire from the top of low hills on both sides of the road, where 
the insurgents were well protected, and he sustained severe losses with- 
out inllicting much injury upon the enemy. So hot was the encounter 
that Lu<iue withdrew and i)repar(Ml to charge upon two points where 
the enemy were making a stand. He held the road with one battalion, 
sending a detachment to the ngiit, and anotli^r to the left. Tlie attack 
was successful. The Si»anisli niatie a magnilicent effort under with- 
ering lire, and swept Maceo's forces b<'fore them, not, however, until 
they had left the lield scattered with their own dead and wounded. 

For some reason the cavalry had not been usihI. 'liie ;iiiillery was 
just coming up when the action had reached this jjoiul. The Spanish 
f<»und that the enemy had, instead of being ronted, simply fallen back 
and taken a position on another hill, and scattered firing went on for a 
considerable time, while Luque prejiared to attack again. Then, 
against -,000 of Maceo's men, was directe<l all of Lnque's command, 
over 1,000 infantry, 200 cavalry, and eleven pieces of artillery. 

At least half of JLnceo's army, certainly not less than 2,000 cavaliy, 
had been moving up to Luque's rear and came upon him, surprising 
him just as this second attack wa.s being made. 

For a time it was a question whether Lutpie's command would no) 
be wiped out. They were ]iractically surrounded by .Maceo's men, and 
for fully an houi' and a half the li.L:liting was desjierate. . It is impossi- 



BATTLES WITH MACHETE AND KIFLE. 173 

ble to unravel the stories of both sides so as to arrive at a clear idea 
of the eucoimter. 

When the cannonading ceased, four companies of infantry charg(Kl 
up the hill and occupied it before the insurgents, who had been driven 
out by the artillery, could regain it. Shortly the hill on the left of 
the road was taken in the same way, and Luque, although at a great 
loss, had repelled Maceo's attack from the rear. 

The battle had lasted for a little over two hours. Maceo had about 
forty of his men wounded and left four dead on the field, tak'ng away 
ten others. Twenty or more of his horses were killed. The Spanish 
reported that he had 1,000 killed, the next day reduced the number 
to 300, and finally to the statement that "the enemy's losses must have 
been enormous," the usual phrase when the true number is humiliat- 
ing. Luque's losses have never been officially reported, but it is 
variously estimated at fi'om seventy-five to a hundred men. 

The Work of Fiends. 

The Cubans give horrible details of a battle at Paso Eeal, between 
General Luque's army and a division of Maceo's forces under Bermu- 
dez. Witnesses of the encounter claim that the Spaniards invaded 
the hospital and killed wounded insurgents in their beds, and that 
Bermudez, in retaliation, formed a. line, and shot thirty-seven Span- 
ish prisoners. 

Luque says in his report of this engagement : "The rebels made a 
strong defense, firing from the tops of houses and along the fences 
around the city. The Spanish vanguard, under Colonel Hernandez, 
attacked the vanguard, center and rear guard of the rebels in the cen- 
tral streets of the town, diiving them with continuous volleys and fierce 
cavalry charges into the outskirts of the town. Up to this point we 
had killed ten insurgents." 

The people of Paso Keal say this report is true, as far as it goes, but 
that Luque neglects to add that he then attacked the hospital, and 
murdered twenty-eight wounded men, firing at them as they lay on 
their cots, through the windows, and finally breaking down the door, 
and killing the rest with the bayonet. 

Under date of February 8th we have an account of the operations 
of the Spanish General Sabas Marin, who left Havana a short time 
before. His campaign in search of General Gomez was disastrous, and 



174 BATTLES WITH .MACllKTK A.\l» lilFLE. 

the official rei>oi-ts of Spiuiisb victories Avere misleading. Tliere were 
losses on both sides, but Marin accomidished al)S()Iiilcly notliiuj^ of 
what he intended to achieve. 

The tirst misfortune which overtook the Spaniards was the rout of 
CarncHa.s, on the very day on which Mariu left Havana, Gomez sent 
a (h'tachment under Pedro Diaz to intercept him, and this force 
reached Sahulri<;as in the early niorninji. In this sectiim the country 
is cut into small fields, divided by stone fences, and facinj^ tlie road 
there is a hij,di fence, with a ditch in front of it. Diaz placed 400 infan- 
try behind this fence, and waitinl himself with 1,000 cavalry back of a 
hill close by. When the Spanish forces appeared, the advance guard 
was allowed to pass, and as soon as the main body was fairly in the 
trap, volleys were poured into them, literally mowing them down. 
At the sound of the first gun, Diaz UhI his thousand hoi-semen upon the 
enemy's Hank and rear. The charge was irresistible. Half of Diaz's 
men diil not even fire a shot, but yelling "machete," they rode furiously 
ujion the Sj)anish lines, cutting fiieir way through, and tight iiig with 
terrible effect. 

The S]ianisli issued no (tflicial rejiort of tliis battle. So far as the 
records show, it never occurred. One of the ><]i;iiiisli ofTici-rs, who 
fought in it, conceded a loss of 200 men, but it is jiroljiildc ili;it twice 
that number would be nearer the correct figure. 

Americans in the Cuban Army. 

f'ohuud Frc^lerick Kunstoii, who returned to New Y'ork in January, 
iSits, told an interest iiig story of brave Yankee boys serving under 
(ii'iieral (Jomez and CJeneral darcia in Kastern Cuba, an«l also gave an 
account of the sad death of W. Dana Osgood, tlie famous football 
|dayer, formerly of the University of Penn.sylvaiiia. 

Colonel Ftinstrtn was with Croniez's anuy when they attacked (Jui- 
luaro. They had with them a twelve-j>ound Ilotchkiss rifle and four 
American artillerymen, Osgood of reiiusylvanin, I,atrobe and .lanney 
of Haltimore, and Devine of Texas. 

They attacked Ouimant in the morning, at ranges of from 400 to 
000 yards, the infantry being ])rotect<'d by a breastwork of earth, in 
whiili openings were left for the guns. 

'I'jie Spanish gan'ison consisted of 200 men in eli'veii forts, and 
IIk'v maintained a hot fir<' all day. CiiKliially, however, the Ilotchkiss 



BATTLES ^MTll MACHETE AND RIFLE. 175 

rifle, the fire of which was directed by Osgood, made the largest and 
nearest fort untenable, and it was abandoned by tlie garrison, and im- 
mediately occupied by forty of the insurgents. One of the Cuban 
guns was moved forward and stationed in this fort in the night, and 
from that point of vantage the other forts were shelled on the follow- 
ing day. 

Naturally the rifles of the gamson were trained most of the time 
upon the man sighting the ITotchkiss in the captureil fort, and there, 
leaning over the gun In the eariy morning, the intrepid Osgood was 
shot through the head. lie was earned off by his comrades under fire, 
and died four hours later. The death of this gallant young American 
was universally lamented, yet many others of similar spirit have held 
themselves ready to fight for Cuba's cause. 



en AFTER XXII. 

FILIBUSTEKvS FROM FIJ)KI1>A. 

First Exiu'ditiuns — Kxiunse lo the United Slalis— I'icsidcnl I'iiTics Aclioii 
— The l|)ii»in{; in lS(iS — The Patrol of tlii' Coasts — An Exi)t'dition on 
tlie "TLivi' Friends" — Anns and Anininnition Un- the Insurj;ents — Des- 
perate C'hanees — A Snecessfiil Landinf::. 

The record of tlie last tiftv vcars is the clearest and nwtst convinc- 
ing evidence tliat can be offered ajiaijist the Spanish contention that 
the United States is not concerned with the question of government 
in Tuba, and has not been tremendously iujure<l by the inabilily of 
Spanish administratictn to furnish the Cubans with a peaceful and 
satisfactory jrovernment. The lirst bit of evidence to be submitted 
comes from away back in 1S48, when President Polk, on behalf of the 
rnited States, announced that while the I'uited Slates was williiiL; 
that Cuba should be ctuitinued under S]ianisli ownership and tioyerii 
ment, it would never consent to the occupaiinn of the island by any 
other Eurojiean nation. 

It was jjointed out at that time by the American government that 
were the I'nited States t(t admit that Cuba was open to seizure by any 
government that was able to throw S|>aiu out the fact tii;il it was 
nearly surrounded, in (V-ntral and South Amenca and in other West 
Imliaii islands, by temtory belonging to lw(dve other nations would 
make it the grouml of interminable s<]uabbles. And these sfjuabbles 
were not maltei-s which would be without interest ami damage to the 
commerce and peace of the rnited States. This wa.s followed by an 
offer of .<;i(lll,IMMI,(ltH» to Spain for the island <tf Cuba. The offer was 
promptly dediiied, and tlie I'nited Slates was infurmcd that Cuba 
was not ou the market. 



4' 



First Filibustering Expedition. 

XeviM'theless, there was formed in llie Cniled Slates the fyone Star 
^il•ty, which had as its idtject "the ac(|uisition of the islaml of Cuba 
pint of the ti'iritory of the I'nited States." 
The "Conspiracy of !.,oiii'Z," which is fully ti-eated of in previous 




^APTAW SIGSBEE OF THE ILL,FATED - MAINE --NOW COMMANDER OF THE 
CRUISER ST. PAUL 




GENERAL STEWART L WOODFORD-LAST U. S. MINISTER TO SPAIN 



FILIBUyTEKS FROM FLOKIDA. IT? 

pages of this work, was the first filibustering expedition tliat attracted 
particular attention from the authorities, and it was hoped that its 
disastrous end would deter others from like attempts. But the hope 
was a vain one, for within two years a similar expedition, led by Gen- 
eral Quitman of Mississippi, was organized in the United States. 
Many men were enlisted and vessels chartered, but the expedition 
was suppressed by the goverumeut of the United States. 

Expense to United States. 

It will thus be seen that the fact that Spain had not been able to 
govern Cuba i>eaceably has caused the United States great expense and 
irritation for a much longer period than is usually taken into consid- 
eration in these days. It is not the fault of the United States that its 
citizens have been stirred to sympathy with the victims of the Span- 
ish policy of government by robbery and murder. It is not the fault 
of the United States that this counti"y has been the refuge of men who 
have been outlawed from the country of their birth because their pres- 
ence there meant the irrepressible working in them of a desire for 
freedom, a desire intolerable to Spanish institutions. 

It is not the fault of the United States that these refugees, living 
in the land of civil liberty, should desire to return to their native coun- 
try and drive out those who made it miserable. But it would have been 
the fault of the United States, under international law, if these exiled 
Cubans were pemiitted to carry out their very natural and laudable 
desire in concert with the Americans whose sympathy' had been 
stirred by the story of Spanish wrougs. To ferret out the plans for 
expeditions conceived with such determination and perseverance was 
not only a task requiring tremendous expenditure of money and 
energy, but it was a miserably disagreeable and unpopular work for 
the government to engage in. 

On the 31st of May, 1854, President Pierce issued a proclamation 
instructing citizens of the United States as to their duties in refrain- 
ing from encouragement, aid, or participation in connection with the 
Cuban insurrections. 

The Uprising in 1868. 

In the fall of 18(18, after scattering uprisings and several battles 
during the preceding year, plans for a concerted insun-ection were 
arranged. The plan was discovered and the insurrection was started 



178 IMl.ir.rSTKKS F1{<»M FLOKIDA. 

prematurely. There follciwed ;i caiiiiiai^ii in wiiich Spauisb forces, 
aiuouiitiiif; to 110,000 men, were uiialile lo hold in check the Cuban 
force of about 2(;,000. In May the lilibustei-ing expwlitious, that were 
to prove such an immense exi)ense ami annoyance to the United 
States, bejian aj;ain. Tlie Spanish navy co-operated with the United 
States jiovernnient in the elTorts to su])i)ress these exjjeditions, but 
many of them eiudiMJ the auiliorilics, and aided tlie insuriicnls with 
arms and provisions. 

Tliis was irritating to Spain ami the United States alike, because 
it cost just as much to keep u\) an uns\iccessful anti-tilibu.stering i)a- 
trol as it did actually to catch lilibusters, and, moreover, every suc- 
cessful ex])edition weakened the authority of the Federal government. 
That authority in the Southern States just after the Avar was none too 
strong, and it was not a good thing that the spectacle of deliance to 
the United States should be (hiunted along the Southern coast. 

From ISTS until lS!>.~»,when the jtresent insun-ection gained strength 
to become o]>enly active, the islanil is suiii>osed to have been at peace, 
but in the lallir y.-ai- liu' op<-n wai- and liiibustering expetlitious began 
again. The name of I'lcsident Cleveland was adde<l to tiie list of Pres- 
idents whose duty it was to interfere with elTorts to aid Cuban liberty. 
He issued ap]>ropriate proclamations on .Tune 12, is't.l, ami July '.'A), 
Is'.m;. Ili'venue cutters and warships coiisi;inily ]>aHdllrd (lie i'lorida 
coast and, indeed, all the watei's of the gulf, and sometimes 2sew York 
harbor, to head olT filibustering expedilion.s. It is .«;aid to have co.st 
more to suppress the natural desire of citizens of the Unite<l States to 
relieve the political dislri'ss in Cuba than il has cost lo enforce cus- 
toms n-;:nlalioiis from the same territory. 

The Voyage of the "Three Friends." 

As evidence of the fact that ('id)an symjiathizers have been suc- 
cessful in escajdng the patrol on American coasts an<l the enemy's 
battleshi](s in f'iil»an watei-s, we give the repf)rt of one of many exjie- 
dilions that have been made during the i)ast three years. 

The .steamer "Three Friends," of Jacksonville, Florida, in connnand 
of ('a|itnin Napoleon R. I?roward, returned to Jacksonville on March 
IStli, having succeeded in landing in Cuba, Oeneral Enrique Collazo, 
Major Charles Ileniandez, and Duke Estrada, besides fifty-four men 
taken off the schooner "Ardell" from Tampa, and the entire cargo of 
arms and ammunition of the schoonrf ''Mallorv" from Uedar Kev. It 



FILIHUWTEKS FKOM FLORIDA. ITD 

was by long oJds the most important expedition that has set out 
from this couutrj, and tJie Cubans at Jai-lvsonville, when they learned 
that the "Three Friends" had safely fullilled her mission, shouted 
"Mva Cuba!" until they were hoarse. 

They decdared that it would change the character of the whole 
war, as the unarmed men would now be ai'med, and that Maceo, who 
had before been wary and cautious, would be more aggi'essive tlian 
he had ever been before. The cargo of arms landed by the "Three 
Friends" and the "Mallory" was as follows: 750,000 rounds of car- 
tridges, 1,200 rifles, 2,100 machetes, 400 revolvers, besides stores, re- 
loading tools, etc. 

The "Three Friends" met the "Mallory" at Alligator Key. The 
"Ardell" had just finished trausfenlng the men to her. While they 
were rendezvoused there behind the i>ines in a deep coral-walled creek, 
three big Spanish men-of-war steamed slowly by, but they did not dis- 
cover that there was anything suspicious looking in shore, although 
with a glass men could be seen in their look-outs scanning the horizon, 
as well as searching the shore. Sunday, about noon, no vessels being 
in sight, the "Three Friends" took in tow the "Malloi^" and steamed 
southward under a good head of steam. . 

The "Three Friends" is a powerful tug, and by Monday night was 
close enough to the Cuban shore to hear the breakers. Several ship- 
lights to the west were seen, one of which was evidently a Spanish 
man-of-war, for she had a search-light at her bow, and was sweeping 
the wjives with it, but the "Three Friends" was a long way off, and had 
no light, and so was out of the neighborhood of the Spaniard. 

A Successful Landing. 

At ten o'clock that night, by the aid of a nnphtha launch and two 
big surf boats, which had been taken out of Jacksonville, the "Three 
Friends" landed the men and ammunition from her hold, and from that 
of the "Mallory." It took four and a half hours to complete the job. 
There were hundreds of men on shore to assist, and they did it silently, 
appreciating the peril of the position. 

The Cubans on shore recognized General Collazo immediately, and 
no words can desci-ibe their joy' on seeing him. He is a veteran of 
Cuban wars, and one whom Spain fears. In fact, it is known that 
during his sojourn in Florida he was shadowed by detectives, who had 
been instructed to spare no expense to keep Collazo from reaching 



180 FlI.ir.rSTKKS FK(».M FI.<»ini»A. 

Cuba. Wlicii it was wliispcrcil llial ('ollazit \va.s really amoup tbera, 
they seemed not to believe their ears, but came fonvartl ami h)oked, 
and, seeing that there was really no mistake, threw up their lu-ms and 
wept for joy. Major Charles Hernandez and Duke Estrada were also 
onthusiastieally weleonied. 

It was reiKtrted that niji;ht that Maceo had received the aims of the 
first expediti(jn that set fortli three days before the "Three Friend.s" 
landed. They were not from the "Commodore," for they reported that 
they were now on the lookout for that vessel. They said, too, that at 
the end of the week four expeditions were afloat. T\\'o, iududins: the 
"Three Friends," had laudeil, and two more were on the way. Tues- 
day morning, as the "Three Friends" was i^eturning, she sighted u 
steamer tl«it answen^d to the description of the "Commodore." She 
was headed southward, and pushing along a])parently at the rate of 
fifteen knots an hour. 

Here is the story of the cai)ture of an expedition, by ( '(Hiininiider 
Butron, of th(» Spanish gunboat "Mensagera": 

"The 'Meusageia' was directed to watch the coast heiween ( 'ayo 
Julia and ^lorrillo, about one huudrcil miles. It was heard on the 
afterncjon of April U.") that a. suspicious schooner had bi^^n seen near 
C^uebrados de I'va.s. The gunboat followed, and found the 'Competi- 
tor.' The usual .signals were made, but the .schooner tricnl to get clo.ser 
in shore, so a.s to land a rapid-fire gun. 

"The *Mensagei-a' was then moved fonvard and fired a shot, which 
str'Uik liie scliiinMcr and exploded a box of cartridges which tlie men 
wei'e trying to take aslioi-e. Several occupants of the schooner became 
alarmed, and threw tiiemselves into the water, fearing an ex]iIosinii of 
dynamite. The gutdtoat's ci-ew seizetl rilles and l)cgan slKtoling, kill- 
ing three men. Several others reached shoi'e. 

"'I'hree men were aboai'd the sciiooiier when it was o\erhan!cd, 
and they surreiidci-cd without resistance. Among Ihcin was Owen 
Milton, cdilcir of tin- Ki-y West Mostpiito. Sailors were sent ashore 
to capture ihcarnis lamlcd. In the skinnish, two men, sujiposed to.be 
filibusters, and .1 horse were killed. They secured several abandoned 
cases of cartridges. A body of insurgents had come to watch the land- 
ing of the boat's crew. The 'Mensagera.' came to Havana with the 
arms and prisoners, who were very seasick. The schooner was towed 
to Havana by the guid)oat 'Vicente Yanez.' It is regarded as an object 
of great curiosity liy tiie iniwds. It iiad the Si»anish flag (loafing 



FILIBUSTERS FROM FLORIDA. 181 

when capturpd. It is a, neat, strong boat, and looks fast. One of the 
prisoners captnred steadilj- refnses to give his name." 

An acconnt of tlie trial, as sent from Havana, May Sth, reads as 
follows: 

"The court opened at the Arsenal. The prisoners were Alfredo 
Laborde, boi"n in New Orleans; Owen Milton, of Kansas; William 
Kinlea, an Englishman, and Elias Vedia and Teodore Dela Maza, both 
Cubans. Captain Kuiz acted as president of the court, which con- 
sisted of nine other militarv and naval otficers. The trial of the five 
filibusters captured aboard the 'Competitor' was proceeded with 
against the formal protest presented by Consul General Williams, 
who declared that the trial was illegal and in violation of the treaty 
between Spain and the United States. 

"The prisoners were not sensed with a. coi>y of the charges against 
them and were not allowetl to select their own counsel, but were 
represented hy a naval officer appointed by the government. They 
were not pennitted to call witnesses for their defense, the prosecution 
calling all the witnesses. Owen Milton, of Kansas, testified through 
an interpreter that he came on the expedition only to correspond for 
a newspaper. William Kinlea, when called, was in his shirt sleeves. 
He arose and said in English, 'I do not i"ecognize your authority, and 
appeal for protection to the American and English consuls.' " 

Fortunately for these prisoners, the United States government in- 
terfered, and they were eventually released. 



CHAPTEK XXIII. 

WKVI.KK Till-: lilTCllKU. 

His .\iiccstr\ — A Soulier T'lciiii His ^oulli — lit' Siu-fci'ds (iciicral I'liiiiiios — 
A .Miisti-r oi Dipldiiiacy — A Slave of Spaiu — His rersonal Appearaui-e 
— His Interview Willi a Woman — His Dciinitiou of War — His Kesi^'- 
iialiou. 

Early iu ISUG, when the Spanish irnveiniiu'iit began to realize that 
the insurrection was assnmiuy serious jiroportions, arrauyeineuts were 
made for the recall of General C'luupos, then Governor-General of 
the island, and (ieneral Weyler was sent to assume the duties (jf the 
office. It was the i>i»ini(in in Spain that Campos was lun mild in lijs 
treatment of the rebels, and as Weyler was kuown in have no lamb- 
like (lualities, he was reji^arded as the id«>al man for the position. That 
he did not succeed in pultinj^ down the rebellion Avas certainly not 
due to any lack of extreme measures on his i)art. He is known as the 
"Hutcher," and his managemeul of atTaii-s iu Cuba certainly irives him 
every right to the title. 

N'aleriani) Weyler y Xicolau, to give liini liis full nann', is only half 
a Spaniard. His fallwr was a J'russiau, llniugh Weyler himself was 
boiii in Cadiz in Is.'iit. His parents wei"e in very moderate circum- 
slances and not of noble bii-lli. What Weyler has won lie has acquired 
through his own efforls. lb- lias niade his way single-liande(l. lie 
graduated from the infantry schoul at 'I'ldedn in isr.T and was at once 
.sent to Cuba as a subaltern, lie was (|iii(l<Iy made a raiilaiu and hi.«: 
lirst work was to subdue a small revtdt iu San Domingo. 

He rose rapiilly in rank, and during the lirst Cuban rev(dl lie was in 
command in the province of Santiago, Avhere he earned the title that 
has since made him famous in the eyes of his suppoi-tei-s, but infamous 
from a civilized jwjint of view. I'.ut he put down Hie revolt. He was 
rewarded' with the appointment of ca|>tain general of the Canary 
islands. His adnuinstration was so successful that lie was created 
Marquis of Teneriffe. lie was then barely thirty-uiiie yeais (dd. lb' 
distingui.shed him.self in the CarlisI war ami at lis eomlusioii he was 
made caiitain general of tin- rhilijipines, where he (|iie||ed an insur- 



WEYLER THE BUTCHER. 183 

rection and admittedly gave the islands the best administration thej' 
had ever known. He returned to Spain in 1SS9 and was in command 
at Barcelona until the present Cuban revolution began. 

Here is a mental photograph of him by a newspaper correspond- 
ent: 

"Most men resemble their rei)utations, and if a life famously spent 
is in the mind of one who visits a character of w'orld-wide repute, he 
quite naturally discovers peculiarities of facial expression and 
physique which appear to account for the individuality of the man, 
fighter, philosopher, criminal, reformer or whatever he may b(s 

"All this is true of General Wejder. He is one of those men who 
create- a first impression, the first sight of whom can never be effaced 
from the mind, by whose presence the most careless obsen'er is im- 
pressed instantly, and yet, taken altogether, he is a man in whom the 
elements of greatness are concealed under a. cloak of impenetrable 
obscurity. Inferior physically, unsoldierly in bearing, exhibiting no 
trace of refined sensibilities nor pleasure in the gentle associations 
that others live foi", or at least seek as diversions, he is nevertheless 
the embodiment of mental acuteness, crafty, unscrupulous, fearless 
and of indomitable perseverance. 

"I have talked with Campos, Marin and Weyler, the three Captain- 
Generals to whom Spain has intrusted (thus far unsuccessfully) the 
reconquest of Cuba. Eeconquest seems an ill-chosen word, but one of 
General Weyler's staff has so denominated this war, and Cuban revo- 
lutions can be settled only by concpiests. Campos was an exceptional 
man. Marin was commonplace. Weyler is unique. Campos and Marin 
affected gold lace, dignity and self-consciousness. Weyler ignores 
them all as useless, unnecessary impediments, if anything, to the one 
object of his existence. Campos was fat, good natured, wise, phil- 
osophical, slow in his mental processes, clear in his judgment, em- 
phatic in his ojjinious, outspoken, and, withal, lovable, humane, con- 
servative, constructive, progressive, with but one project ever before 
him, the glorification of Spain as a mother-land and a figure among 
peaceful, enlightened nations. 

"Weyler is lean, diminutive, shriveled, ambitious for immortality, 
irrespective of its odor, a master of diplomacy, the slave of Spain, for 
the glorj' of sitting at the right of her throne, unlovable, unloving, 
exalted, and doubtless justly, in self-esteem, because he is unmistaken 
in his estimation of his value to his Queen. His passion is success, 



184 WEVLEK TIIK lUTCllKK. 

j)ei' se, fmil or fair coustMiuciucs cir tlic convculidnal ideas of liuinan- 
ity uotwitlistauding. 

"He is a little man. An api>arition of blacks — black eyes, black 
hair, black beard, dark, exceedingly dark, complexion, a plain black 
attire, black shoes, black tie, a very dii-ty shirt and soiled standing 
collar, with no jewelry and not a relief from the aspect of darkness 
anywhere on his person. 

'•It is not remarkable that I momentai-ily hesitated to make cer- 
tain that this was actually Weyler. Doubt was dispel k'd with a look 
at his face. His eyes, far apart, bright, alert and striking, took me in 
at a glance. His face seeiued to run to his chin, his lower jaw i)ro- 
truding far beyond any ordinaiT sign of firmness, persistence or will- 
power. His forehead is neither high nor receding, neither is it that of 
a thoughtful or philosophic man. His ears are set far back, and what 
is called the region of intellect, in which are those mental attributes 
that might be detiue<l as powere of observation, calculation, judgment, 
and execution, is strongly develoi)ed. The conformation of his head, 
however, is not one that is generally accepted as an indication of any 
marked po.ssession of pliil()i>r(»genitiveness or its kindred emotions and 
inclinations. His nose is afjuiiine, bloodless and obtrusive. WiieU' lie 
speaks it is with a high na.sal enunciation that is not disagreeable, 
because it is not prolougitl, and his sentences justify every im]>ressiou 
that has already been fonned of llic man. They are short, crisji, em- 
phatic and expressive. 

"'I have an aversion to speech,' he said. 'I am an enemy of ]Mihlira- 
tions. I prefer to act, not to talk. I am here to restore peace, ^^■ilen 
peace is in the land I am going away. I am a soldier. When I am 
gone, politicians will reconstruct Cuba, and pi-obably they will upset 
tilings again until they are as bad as they are now. I care not for 
America, England, anyone, but only for the treaties we have willi 
them. They are tiie law. T observe the law, and evei^' letter of tiic 
law. I have my ideas of Cuba's relatittii to Spain. I have never ex- 
pressed them. Some politicians wouM agree with them, others would 
not. No one would agree with all of them. T know I am merciless, 
but mercy has no place in war. I know the reputation which has been 
built up for me. Things that are charged to me were done by officers 
under me, and I wa.s held responsil)1e for all things in the Ten-Years' 
war, including its victorious end. I do not conceal the fact that I 
am here solelv because it is believed T ciin crush this insniTection. I 



WEYLEK THE BUTCHER. 185 

care not what is said about mo, unless it is a lie so great as to occasion 
alarm. I am not a politician. I am AYeyler.' " 

A Woman's Interview with Weyler. 

The following interview with the "Butchei'" is by Mrs. Kate Mas- 
terson, who bearded the lion in bis den for an American newspaper: 

"His Excellency, Captain-General Weyler, graciously gave me an 
audience to-day. He received me with most charming courtesy, 
escorted me through his apartments and presented me with a bunch 
of roses from his own table. Before I left he had honored me with an 
invitation to dine with him at the Palace. 

" 'Your Excellency,' I said to him through my interpreter, 'the 
American women have a vei^ bad opinion of you. I am vei*}^ much 
afraid of you myself, but I have come to ask the honor of an intei-view 
with you, in order that I maj^ write something which will reassure the 
women of America that you are not treating women and children un- 
mercifully.' 

" 'I do not give intei'views,' he said. 'I am willing, however, to 
answer any question you wish to ask.' 

" 'In the United States,' I said, 'an impression prevails that your 
edict shutting out newspaper correspondents from the field is only to 
conceal cruelties pei^petrated upon the insurgent prisoners. Will your 
Excellency tell me the real cause?' 

" 'I have,' replied the General, 'shut out the Spanish and Cuban 
papers from the field, as well as the American. In the last war the 
correspondents created much jealousj' by what they wrote. They 
lu'aised one and rebuked the other. They wrote what the prisoners 
dictated, instead of facts. They even created ill-feeling between the 
Spanish officers. They are a nuisance.' 

" 'Then I can deny the stories as to your being cruel?' 

"The General shrugged his heavy shoulders as he said cai'elessly: 
'I have no time to pay attention to stories. Some of them are true and 
some are not. If you will particulanze I will give direct answers, but 
these things are not important.' 

" 'Does not your Excellency think that prisoners of war should be 
treated with considei'ation and mercy?' 

"The General's eyes glinted dangerously. 'The Spanish columns 
attend to their prisoners just as well as any other counti-y in time of 



18(5 WKVLEK TIIK lUTClIKK. 

war,' Li" ri'iiliiMl. •War i.s war. Vdii camioi make it oilit-rwi.si', Ii_v as 
you will.' 

"'Will uot your Excelk'Uty allow uic to ;,^o to tlio sii'iu- of battle 
uuder an eistort of soldiers, if ut'cessary, that I may write of the situa 
tioD a.s it really is, and correit the impression thai prevails in Amer- 
ica that iuhiiiiuui treatment is beiu<,' accorded to the insurgent piis- 
ouers?' 

"'Impossible,' answered the (leiieral. 'It would not be safe.' 

"'I am willing to take all the danger, if your Excellency will allow 
me to go,' I ex( laiminl. 

"General Weyler laughed. 'There would be no danger from the 
rebels,' he said, 'but from the Spanish soldiei-s. They are of a very 
affecti(mate disjiosition and would all fall in love with you.' 

"'I will kiH'p a great distiince from the lighting, if you will allow 
me to go.' 

"The (Jent-ral's lij>s closed tightly, and lie said: 'iMipossililf! hii- 
possibli-I' 

"'What would ha|i|>tii,' 1 asked, 'if 1 sliiini<l be discoveicd cross- 
ing the lines without permission?' 

"'Vol! would be treated jiist the same as a man." 

"'W(»uld ] be sent to Castle M(UTo?' 

"'Ves,' he rejdied, nodding his head vigoruusly. Thai settled it. 1 
<Ierided not to go. 

"'Wli_\,' 1 a.sked him, 'is the rule inrnmnmnicaild piaced ii|niii |iiis- 
oners? Is it not cruel to |>reveiil a man from seeing his wife and cliil- 
dren?' 

"'The rule iiirrmimnnicadn,' said the (ieiieral. 'is a military law. 
Prisoners are allowed to see their relati\es as a faxor, but we exeiiise 
discretion in these cases.' 

"'There are storii-s that prisoners are shot in Castle Morro at day- 
br«'ak each morning, ami that the shots (•an be plainly heanl across 
the bay. Is this true'/' 

"The (leiieral's eyes looked nn|ileasant again. 'It In falsel' lie said 
shru-tly. 'The prisoners go thniugh a regidar rourt-martiai, and no 
one couhl be shot at Morro willmul my orders, and I have not given 
orders to shoot anyone since I have bi-eii here.' 

"'Do you not think it very cruel that innoceul woimn and (hildnn 
should be made to suffer in time of war?' 

"'No innocent women ami iliildieii do snlTer. It is oidv those who 



WEYLER THE BUTCHER. 187 

leave their homes aud take part in battle who an- iiijuicd. It is ouly 
the rebels wlio destroy peaceful homes.' 

"•It is reported,' I said, 'that thirty woiueu are lighting- under 
Maceo. Is this true?' 

" 'Yes,' replied the General. *We took one woman yesterday. 8he 
was dressed in man's clothes aud was wieldiui;- a machete. She is now 
in Morro Castle. These women are fiercer than men. .Many of them 
are mnlattoes. This particular womau was white.' 

" 'What will be her fate?' 

" 'She will go through the regular form of trial.' 

" 'Will no mercy be shown her?' 

" 'Mercy is always shown to a woman. While the law is the same 
for both sexes, there is a clause which admits of mercj' to a woman.' 

" 'Thei'e are sevei'al Cuban women insurgents in Morro and the 
Cabanas. Would your Excellency,' I asked, 'allow me to visit them?' 

" 'No,' he said. .'There is a law that uo foreigner shall enter our 
fortresses. It is a military law. We can make uo exceptions. You 
understand that I do not wish to be discourteous, senorita,' 

" 'Some of these women,' I continued, 'are said to be impi'isoned 
for merely having Cuban flags in their lionies. Is this possible?' 

" 'Treason,' exclaimed the General, 'is always a crime, punishable 
by imprisonment.' 

" 'There is a newspa])er correspondent at ]>resent in Morro. What 
was his crime?' 

"The General shrugged his shoulders again. 'I know nothing 
about him,' he said. 'I think he has been freed.' 

'"Do you. not think the life of a newspaper correspondent in 
Havana is at present a most unhappy one?' 

"'I think it must be, for they make me imhappy. If they were all 
like you it would be a pleasure.' 

"'Is it true that thumbscrews are used to extort confessions from 
prisoners?' ' 

"'Not by the Spaniards. Rebels use all these things, similar to 
those that were used in the Inquisition tortures.' 

" 'Vv'hat does your Excellency think of the Cubans as a race? Do 
you not think them progressive and brave?' 

" 'With the progress of all nations the Cubans have progressed,' 
he replied. 'There are manj- Cubans in sympathy with Spain, but this 
insurrection is a blot upon the Cubau race which nothing can ever 



188 WEYLER THE KUTCIIER. 

erase. It is a staiu made with the blood of the slain and the tears of 
the women. It injures the Cubans themselves more than anv other.' 
''We have been aceiistomwl in this country to re},^ard Wevler as a 
man of blood, utterly devoid of any of the tiner feelinj^s. But even he 
has admirable traits, and anionj; them may be mentioned his extraor- 
dinary .skill as ;i dijdtmiat, his undoubted bravery as a soldier, ami liis 
indomitable resoluti<m in every matter that alTetts the welfare of his 
nation, as he understands it." 



CHArTER XXIV. 

CUBA UNDER THE SCOURGE. 

The Civil (juai'ils aud Their Crimes — Horrible Murder of Eight Inuocent 
Men — A Man After Weyler's Own Heart — How the Sjianish Gain 
"Victories" — Life, Liberty and Property Sacriticed — The War Not a 
Race War — Resistance to the Bitter End. 

Cuba has been under martial law for over fifty years, and its en- 
forcement by the Civil guards (as the officers appointed by the Spanish 
government are called) has been responsible for innumerable out- 
i-ages against the lives and property of the inhabitants. These officials 
have been guilty of every crime in the calendar, but protected by their 
positions they have escaped legal punishment, and it has only been on 
occasions when, driven to desperation, the people have acted as judges 
and executioners by taking the law into their own hands that any re- 
dress has been possible. 

If for any reason these guards wish to persecute a man, the fact 
that he is a non-combatant is no protection to him, nor to his family. 
They have been the means of adding to the ranks of the insurrection- 
ists, for frequently the man who has seen his relatives and friends 
shot before his eyes, to satisfy some personal spite, or in ordei' that 
some officer may get credit for a battle, has left his fields and gone to 
strike a manlj- blow for his country and his home. 

The story of eight peaceable white men, who were shot without 
trial, at Campo Florida, near Havana, will serve as an example of 
the work of these fiends. 

These poor fellows were an-ested, their arms were tied, and they 
were taken to the police station. One of them had just completed a 
coffin for a woman, and he was dragged to the station with a. rope 
about his neck. The next day, without even the pretense of a trial, 
they were taken two at a time into a ravine near the fort, where a 
trench had been lately dug, and in spite of the most pitiful pleas for 
mercy, they were shot down in cold blood by the cruel guards, who 
seemed to take fiendish delight in their work of blood. 

The following statement was sent by Cuban patriots, with the 

189 



i;iO CriiA IN I IKK T!IK SCorUCK. 

rciim-st that it be jiivcn tlK' widest imlilirilv imssiblc, aiii(in<; llic poo- 
jik- of the United States: 

"If the <;(ivernnu'nt that unliapjiilv iiiles tlie destinies of tliis un- 
fortunate country shouhl be true to the most rudimentary principles 
of justice and morality, Colonel .lull, Avho has been recently appointed 
Military Governor of Matanza.s provinct', should be in the fjjalleys 
amon<; criminals. It is but a short lime since lie was relieved by 
(Jeneral Martinez Campos of the military command at Cienfuej^os, as 
he had not once enj^aged any of the insur<jc'nt forces, but ventwl all 
his ferocious instincts a<;ainst innocent and inoffensive peasants. 

"In Yajjuaramas, a small town near ('ienfue},^os, he anested as sus- 
pects and si)ies Mr. Antonio Morejon, an honest and hard-working 
man, and Mr. Ygnacio Chapi, who is well advanced in yeai-s, and 
almost blind. Not being able to ju-ove the charge against tlicm, as 
thoy were innocent, he ordered Major Moreno, of the Harcelnmi bat- 
talion, doing garrison duly at Vaguai-ama.s, to kill iln-iii with the 
machete and have them liuried immediately. Major .Moiciio answered 
that he was a gentleman, who liad come to tight fur ilic iiiiigriiy of 
his country, and not to commit murder. This dispjcascil tlic cnhmcl 
sorely, but, unfortunately, a \nhiiiti-er scr^itMiil, wiih six others, was 
willing to execute the order of the cnlouil, ami Mdiijnn mikI Chapi 
were murdered wiliiout Jiity. 

"The order of dull was execulet! iji the most cTuel manner, li Imr 
nfies to even Ihiidv of it. Mr. Chaiii, who knew the ways of Cnhiticl 
.Iidl, on being awakened at tiiree o'clock in the morning, and iiuiilic d 
by the guaril that he and .Morejon had to go out, suspected what was 
to come, and fold his companion to cry out for helj) as soon as they 
were taken out of tlie fort. They did so. but those who were to exe- 
cute tlic ni.li-r (if .lull wri-c ncitliei- iiinved nor weakened ill their pur- 
pose. 

A Horrible Sight. 

"On the ciiiitraiy, ;il the lirst screams nf Ciiapi and .Mdnjuii they 
threw a lasso nver liuii- heads, and pulled at ii li\ the f\\i\s. In a 
few moments they fell tn the grouml choke<l in diaili. Tliey were 
draggerl on the earth, without l>ity, to tiie jdace where they were 
biirieil. All this bloody scene was witnessed by .full from a short dis- 
tance, rrovidence had not willed that so much ini<iuity should re- 
main hidden forever. In the hurry the grave where these two inno- 



CT'HA rXDKH TIIK SCOIIJCK. 191 

cent meu were buried was uut diiy deej) eiiuuj;'li, aud part of tlie rope 
with whicli they were choked remained outside. A neighbor, h>()king 
for a lost cow, saw the rope, took hold of it, and, on pulling, disin- 
terred the head of otio of the victims. lie was terror stricken, and 
immedia.tely gave notice to the judge, who, on ascertaining that the 
meu had been killed by order of Colonel Jull, suspended proceedings. 

"The neighbors and all the civil and military authonties know 
everything that lias been related here, but such is the state of affairs 
on the island that General Weyler has no objection to appointing this 
monster. Colonel Jull, Military Governor of Matanzas. Such <leeds 
as those enumeratetl are common. The people of the town of Matan- 
zas, with Jull as Governor, and Arolas at the head of a column, will 
suffer in consequence of their pernicious and bloody instincts. 

"That the readers may know in part who General Arolas is, it may 
be well to relate what has happened in the Mercedes estate, near 
Colon. It having come to his knowledge that a small body of rebels 
was encamped on the sugar estate Mercedes, of Mr. Carrillo, General 
Arolas went to engage them, but the rebels, who were few in num- 
bers, retreated. Much vexed at not being able to discharge one shot 
at them, he made i)risoners of three workmen who were out in the field 
herding the animals of the estate and Avithout any formality of trial 
shot them. When the bodies were taken to the Central they w'ere 
recognized, and to cover his responsibility somewhat, General Arolas 
said that when he challenged them tliey ran off, and at the first dis- 
charge of musketry they fell dead." 

Life, Liberty and Property Sacrificed. 

Life, liberty and property have all been sacrificed by these deter- 
mined patriots for the sake of the cause they love. Their towns have 
been burned, their homes pillaged, their wives and children starved, 
and in many sections of the island nothing but ruin and waste me<^ts 
the eye. Even their sick and wounded are not safe from the oppress- 
or's sword, and wherever the insurgents have a hospital, they have a 
garrison to protect it. Each of the six provinces has an insurgent hos- 
pital, with a. staff of physicaus and uurses, and a detachment of the 
army. 

The largest of these lies in that part of ISanta Clara called the Isth- 
mus of Zapata. It is a wild, swampy region, through which the na- 



I'j-i CUIJA UXDKH THE SCOURGP:. 

tivc'S alone laii distinguish those incciirious tracks, where the slight- 
est deviation means bein<^ engulfed in the treacherous morass. 

A Determined Resistance. 

A iniMiiincnt Culian, who may be said to speak for his entire race, 
makes this declaration: 

"The poiMilation of the island is, in round numbers, 1,(;()0,(I0(), of 
which less than 2()(),()00 are Spaniards, some 500,000 are colored (Cu- 
bans, and over 800,000 white Cubans. Of the Sjtaniards, a small but 
not inconsiderable fraction, although not taking an active part in the 
defense of our cause, sympathize with, and are supporting it in various 
ways. Of the Cubans, whether coh)re<l or white, all are in sympathy 
with the revolution, with the excejjtion of a few scattered individuals 
who hold positions under the Spanish government or are engaged in 
enterprises which cannot thrive without it. All of tin* Cubans who 
have had the means and the op])ortunity to join the revolutionary army 
have done so, while those who have been com]ielled for one reason or 
another to remain in tin- cities are co-oi)erating to the best of their 
abililics. If the peojde of the small section of the western part of the 
island, which yet remains (|iiiet, were suj)plied with arms and ammu- 
nition they wouhl rise, to a man, wilhin twenty-four luiuis. 

"This revolution of the wlmjc Culiau people against the govern- 
ment of Spain is what the Spanish otiicials are pleased to describe as 
a disturbance caused by a few ailveiilurers, robbei-s, bandits, and 
a.ssassinsi Hut they have a juirpose in so characterizing it, and it is 
n«i other than to justify, in some way, the war of extermination which 
the I'rime Minister of Spain himself has declared will be waged by 
his gitvernuu'iit against the Cuban peo]de. They are not yet satistied 
with the rivers of human blood with which in times past they inun- 
datcfl the lidds of Italy, of the Low Countiies, of our continent of 
.\inerica, an<l oidy a few years ago, of Cuba itself. The Spanish news- 
paper of Havana, 'Kl IMnddo,' urges tli<' Spanish siddiers to give no 
ipiarter, to sjiare no one, to kill all, all without exception, until they 
shall have torrents of <'id>iiu blood in which to batlu' themselves. It 
is well. The Cubans accept the challenge, l)ut they will not imitate 
their tyrants and cover themselves with infamy iiy waging a savag<- 
war. The Cubans respect the lives <tf their S]>auish prisoners, they 
do not attack hospitals, and they cure and assist with the same care 
and s<dicitude with which they cure and a.ssLst their own, the wounded 







I4 ! 


F 



NELSON A. MILES— GENERAL COMMANDING THE U. S. ARMY 




uM i 1-U M A1 hb SL'l UlbkS MARCHING TO THE HRO.MT 



CUIJA UNDEK THE KCOUKGE. 193 

Spauiards who may fall into their hands. They have done so from the 
beginning of the war, and they will not change their humane policy. 

"The Spanish officials have also attempted to convince you that 
the Cuban war is a war of races. Of what races? Of the black against 
the white? It is not true, and the facts plainly show that there is 
nothing of the kind. Nor is the war waged by Cubans against the 
Spaniards as such. No. The war is waged against the goverament of 
Spain, and only against the government of Spain and the officials and 
a few monopolists, who, under it, live and thrive upon the substance 
of the Cubans. We have no ill feeling against the thousands of Span- 
iards who industriously and honestly make their living in Cuba. 

"But with the Spanish government we will make no peace, and we 
will make no compromise. Under its rule there will be nothing for 
our people but oppression and misei-y. For years and years the Cuban 
people have patiently suffered, and in the interests of the colony, as 
well as in the interests of the metropolis, have earnestly prayed for 
reforms. Spain has not only turned, a. deaf ear to the prayers, but 
instead of reforming the most glaring abuses, has allowed them to 
increase and flourish, until such a point has been reached that the con- 
tinuation of Spanish rule means for the Cuban people utter destruc- 
tion." 



CHAPTEK XXV. 
FITZnur.II LKK TO THE FRONT. 

Iniportiiucc of tlic Anicririin Consulalc at Havana in a Critiial Tinio — (ien- 
eial Fitzbufili Lee the Man for the Phu-e— Sketch of tlie Life of Lee— 
A Nation's Conlidence in Its Pojiular Hero — How He Left Havana and 
How He Promised to Ketnrn — Wife and Family of General Let^ — 
His Place l)iinn<; the Early Period of the War. 

Never was there a more <;euuiiu' and tyj)ical American gentleman 
in a (lilHeult position where a genuine aud typical American geiith^man 
was needed, than Fitzbug;h Let^, the American consnl-general at Havana 
during the most critical time jjrior to the outbreak of uni- war with 
Spain. The Cuban c(msul generalship is an oHice of much greater im- 
portance tliau others of the same name in other countries where diplo- 
matic representatives are maintained. It includes the obligations of 
diplomacy as well as those of commei-ce, and I^ee was the man for both. 

His i)redecessor in the ollice, Uamon Williams, had held the ])osition 
for many years and it was recognized by him as W(dl as by the autiiori- 
ties at Washinglcm that a change should be made because of the un- 
usual demands ujion the ollice. Ills long and faithful service in the 
trojdcal country had underminiHl his health so that his energies were 
lessened ther»d)y, at a time when fliey wcro most needed for the 
safely of Ameriian iiiiiiisis. 

It was in thesiiringof IMMI that President Cleveland, believing that 
a man of unusual ability should represent the Unitcnl States at 
Havana, chose Fitzhugh Lee for the ])ost. The selection was aiiprove<l 
from the first by everyone who knew him, and not many months had 
]ia.s.sed until (ieiieral fice bi-ianii' an idol and a iiern nf thr wliole 
American jteople. 

His Havana record has been m* surprise to those who knew of his 
e.xidoits during the war, or of his family. P>lood will tell, and it has told 

in the case of (leneral 1 His family has always Imi n laiiHius in 

American history. How could the grandson of "Lighlliorse ilaiTj', 
the Pevcdutioiuiry hero." or flic n'i)hew (»f I{(d)ert E. Lee, be anything 
else but courageous and iK)ssessed <if tad and common sense? 

191 



FITZHUGH LEE TO THE FRONT. 195 

The son of a uaval officer, he preferred tlie army as a career. (Jradu- 
atiDg from West Point, he fought on the frontier for six years before the 
opening of the Kebellion, and was engaged in several desperate en- 
counters with the Comanche Indians in Texas. On one of these occa- 
sions he was pierced through the lungs by an arrow, but he lived to tell 
the story. On another occasion he grappled with a big Indian in a hand- 
to-hand encounter, threw his antagonist on the ground and killed him. 

Though only twenty-seven years of age, Lee was an instructor in 
cavalry tactics at West Point when the war broke out. He "followed his 
State" into the secession movement. His war record is a matter of 
pride to everj' Virginian. The dashing young officer was an ideal 
trooper, fearing nothing and loved bj- his men. He was modest, too. 
After some brilliant movement of personal valor his brigade formed in 
a body and determined to serenade him at his headquarters^, expecting, 
of course, a speech. But Lee got an inkling of the matter, and when he 
saw them coming he slipped out of his tent and hid in the bushes. 
After the disappointed troopers had called for him in vain and dis- 
persed he peeped furtively from his hiding place, and in a subdued 
tone asked, "Have they gone?" 

Composure in Battle. 

General Lee possessed remarkable composure in battle. He never 
got the least rattled under the most trying conditions, except at Sayloi*'s 
Creek, on the retreat from Petersburg; he never betrayed anxietj-, and, 
though often under a rattling fire, no one ever saw him dodge. This 
cannot be said of many of the bravest men. Sometimes a bullet will un- 
expectedly whizz close to one's head, and the impulse to dodge is almost 
irresistible, though it never did anybody any good. 

One of the officers with him said once that the only time he had 
been moved by the enemy's fire was at the battle of Winchester. He 
and General Early met under an apple tree near the summit of a hill 
and in a very exposed place. There w^is no firing at the time, but while 
the two generals, still on their horses, were intently examining a map, 
one shot was fired. It fell short and they paid no attention to it. But 
lo! another came, struck the apple tree just above their heads, and as 
the apples rained down on them they concluded the map could be bet- 
ter examined in a less exposed position — a conclusion in which all 
others agreed with remarkable unanimitj-. And nobody stopped to get 
any apples. 



I'M FITZlirc.lI LEK TO THE KKONT. 

(U'lK-ral Lcc is a suijcrl) horsciiuui. lie rude a s])lfii(li(l luait naiiHKl 
Nellio. She Lad the form, the stiniiilb, the nimbli'ucss of liuib, tliL' 
ta,i)enn<:; neck, tlioaliTt jwiso of the hoad, the brif^lit and intidlij^eut eyes 
that made her a imxh'l worthy to bear any master. She was all jijrac-e 
and beanty. When the confederate eolnmns were broken in the same 
battle and the rout began, for it was little less, General Lee was at a 
very exposed point. The fire of thirty pieees of artillery was directed 
against it. The air was full of exploding shells; horses were plunging 
about on three legs, neighing piteously for a place of refuge; others 
were disemboweled by tlu> fuiious shot; othei"s were loose, running to 
and fro, bewildered by the terrible havoc, while the mutilated bodies 
of men could be seen on every hand; numbers who were cnppled were 
hobbling away, and all seemed doomed to death. It was here tiiat the 
beautiful Xcille was gored by one fragment of shell and her master's 
leg torn by another. 

lie was noted for iiis gcnialily ami jollity. I Ic loved ImiiKir ami fun, 
and got all (here was to be had in tho.se Irving tinii's. Hul his clii'ertul- 
ness failed at Ai)i)omattox. There he cried. 

After the war had ended. General Lee sett led in SlalTurd ('(Uiiily as 
a farmer and miller. His life Avas the (juict and uiic\ cutriil one of a 
country genlleman, caiing fur iinthiMg but liis wife, whom lie married 
in I.STI, and his children. About IST.") he began to take an active i)art in 
IMilitic.s, and he attended tiie national convention of ISK! as a delegate. 
In 1SS."> he was elec<e<l governor of Virginia. It was then that he again 
became conspicuous. Geiiei'al Lee headed the southern division of the 
inaugui-ation j)ai'ade, and his handsome jtresence and splendid hoi-se- 
mansliij* forced the men on the sidewalks to (dieer him with moTO vim 
than tlicy did aiiyom- else. A simihii- (liMiioiKS;tration occurred when, 
four years later. General Lee Ifd the X'iiginia li-oojis in the Washington 
centennial parade in New Ycu-k to ihc si ii liui; l niic of "1 tixic." On both 
of these occasions he sat i!i the idcnl iral saddlr w iiii li liis uncle, (jleneral 
IJobert. E. Ln-, had \iscd on his familiar gray war Ikhsc, Traveler. Who 
could occupy it moi-e woi-lhily? Any one who lias seen "Fitz" Lee 
mounted like a centaur on a \'irginia thoroughbred iscertiiin to have in 
nu'Uiory ever afterward an ideal ligure of a knightly "man on horse- 
back." Afoot he is not so imi)osing, i)eing only of UHMlium stature, and, 
of late yeai-s, (piile jiorlly. He has a fine head and face, with frank stoil 
blue eyes and a ruddy com]dexion, set oil" by his now almost white hair. 



FITZHUGH LEE TO THE FRONT. 197 

mustache and imperial. ITis bearing- is alert and militaiy. Altosjether, 
he does not look, and probably does not feel, his sixty-two years. 

During Mr. Cleveland's second term he was made collector of in- 
ternal revenue at Lynchburg, Va. 

The Man for the Place at Havana. 

Once settled in his position in Havana, General Lee's fame began 
to multiply. The American opinion of him was voiced immediately 
after the destruction of the Maine, by L. P. Sigsbee, the brother of 
the commander of that ill-fated ship, when h,e said: "There's a man 
down there looking after the interests of this countiy who carniot be 
blinded. He has more sand than anybody I know of, and if there's 
anything treacherous in this explosion we'll know of it without delay. 
The man I mean is General Fitzhugh Lee." 

The same thought occurred to every American who had watched 
his career. From first to last everybody had confidence in his Ameri- 
canism, his bravery and his cool-headedness. He held his office through 
merit alone, no politician gaining any success in the effort to win from 
him that position of distinction and profit, after the change of admin- 
istration when President McKinley assumed the executive chair. The 
nation recognized that be was first an American and an interference 
with him on partisan grounds would not have been tolei"ated. 

Jealous of American honor, and firm in insisting upon the rights 
of his countrymen, he has always kept cool. Courteous and polite as 
well as courageous, he has never blustered and he has won the re- 
spect and admiration of the Spaniards as well as their fear. 

Throughout his seiwice in Cuba, General Lee's figure was a famil- 
iar one in Havana, and even by those most antagonistic to him be- 
cause of their oflicial position, he was heartily admired. No matter 
what the threat of violence from hot-headed Spaniards, when the re- 
lations were most strained between the two countries. General Lee 
never admitted the slightest danger to himself and refused to accept 
any guard except that which he himself was able to maintain for him- 
self. Upon the streets and in the hotels and cafes he was exempt from 
disrespect by the sheer force of his splendid personality. And never 
until the last day of his stay in Havana when all diplomatic relations 
were severed, did the Spanish authorities in that city omit any of the 
forms of courtesy. 



108 FITZIirOII LEE TO THE FIJONT 

General Lee Promises to Return. 

On that day, when in ronipany with the British Consul General he 
went to bill farewell to Captain General lilanco, the latter refused to 
s(^ him upon the excuse that he was too busy. When the homeward 
voyage was actually bej;un, in the little boat that carried to the 
steamer the (\)usul Genenil and the la.st newspaper corresix)ndents 
who rcniiiined in Havana till the end, the malice of tlie Spanish on- 
lookers at the docks could restrain itself uo lon<;rer. With inijjreca- 
tions and scornful and insultinj; epithets they raisetl their voices 
a;j;ainst him. With proper difiuity (icneral Lee iu;nori'd it all, except 
to say in one detinite la.st mcssajic, that lie would ]\r Icick ii;;ain hi-forc 
U>n'^ with troojts to stand by him. 

In his otlice in the consulate at Havana, (Jcncral l.cc ^aiiicd llic 
admiration and the confidence of every American \vhi> had occasion 
to imct Jnni. Bravo as an American should be, and equally* }>;enth' 
and tcnilcr-heai-ted, be was the man for tlic ])laco. Tiie Sjjanish out- 
rajjes ujM)!! American citizens roused in him luii Iwo sriitimcnls. One 
was symjiathy and grief for those who sulTere<i. 'I'lic other was indig- 
natiun and enmity against those who were guilty. 'Id I lie extent of 
all his i»ower he guarde<l and aide<l those for whom that tirst senti- 
ment wa.s roused. He left Cuba with an accumulation of detestation 
for S])anish outrages in that unhapjiy island against Americans and 
<'id)ans, that would stimulate to dee<ls of valor tlifough whatever war- 
fare might follow in which he should be a leader. \Viili a great heart, 
a brilliant mind and a maguiliceiil pliysi(iii<', <!iii(ial Lee comhiiied 
all tluMpialities whidi made liiiii woilliy of tiic Aimiicaii jiiidc which 
was centered upon him. 



OHAPTEE XXVI. 

AMERICANS I\ SrANISH DUNGEONS. 

Spanish Hatred of the American Nation — Instances of Injustice — The Case 
of Dr. Ruiz — Hi.s Death in a Dungeon — Julio Sanguilly — Action of the 
United States Senate in His Behalf — A Correspondent in llorro Castle 
— Walter Dygert's Experiences — General Lee Shows His Mettle in the 
Case of Charles Scott. 

Not content with their ciiiel and inhuman treatment of Cuban 
patriots, the Spanish officials have seemed to take special satisfaction 
in imprisoning and even murdering American citizens on the slightest 
pretext. The object of their most bitter hatred is the insurgent, but 
if they are to be judged by their deeds, it would appear that the Amer- 
ican occupies a close second plgice in their black-list. 

Time and again our government has been compelled to interfere to 
save the lives of its citizens, and unfortunately this interference has 
on several occasions been too late. It is not possible to present a list 
of aJl the men and women of American birth who have lost life, lib- 
erty and property by Spanish authority, from the massacre of the crew 
of the Virgiuius to tlie wrecking of the Maine, but a few instances 
may be mentioned, which will prove conclusively that the retribution, 
of which the glorious victory in Manila bay was but the commence- 
ment, came none too soon. 

The Case of Dr. Ruiz. 

One of the most flagrant of these outrages was the imprisonment 
of Dr. Rieardo Kuiz, a Cuban by birth, but a naturalized citizen of the 
United States. He was a dentist by profession, ha\ing studied in a 
Pennsylvania dental college, and after receiving his diploma, he re- 
turned to his native country to practice his profession. 

He was accused of being in sympathy with the revolutionists, ar- 
rested and kept in prison for two years, when he died, probably from 
violence. In the following letter, written from Havana, regarding the 
case, will be seen the reasons; for this supposition: 

I 199 

I" 



200 AMi:i;i(ANS IN Sl'AMSIl DINCKONS. 

"IJiiiz tlicd, atcttrdiiip: to the suryvons, fnim ((Hi^'i'stinii nf the 
brain, caused by a blow or blows. When tuMicra] Lw and Mr. Cal- 
houn vi.sitcd the jail in Guanabacoa, tliey were shown the cell in whiih 
the Si)anish say that Kuiz die<l. The j^mird explained to General Lee 
and Mr. ("alhonn that he heard thinupinfi on the inside of the door, 
and when he oi»ened it and went in, Kuiz was runninj,' at the heavy 
door and buttinj; it with his head. Kuiz had only one wound on the 
top of his head. Had he butted this door, as the jailer says, his seal]* 
must neces.sarily have been lacerated in several places." 

Julio Sanpuilly is another American citizen who was tried fur 
treason, and .sentenced to life imprisonment. This case attracted a 
^reat deal of attention in the United States, and a resolution was 
passed by the Committee on Foreijrn Kelatlons of the Senate, making 
a demand on the Spanish frovernmcnt for his rcU'ase. Duriu}; the de- 
bate on this resoluticm, S<Miator Daniel, of Virj^inia, said: 

"Two yeai-s a^o yesterday, Julio San>iuilly, an American cilizeii. 
was thrown into prison. Two years have jjone by and this {govern- 
ment has done practically nothiu}; for this citizen. Great l?ritaiii 
would Iinvc release<l him as soon as one of lier liattleshijys couhl reach 
Havana. He has been brutally treated and condemned on unsworn 
testimony before military tribunals. This country and all civilization 
have b«'en disfjra<('<l by the treatment meti'd out to this unfortunate 
man. Even* citizen of this country would have pafrioticailv ap- 
plauded the I'resideiit if he ha<l .sent a lleet of American battlesliijjs 
and compelle<l the release of this American citizen, whose- countrv 
has been insnlled by the ti-eatim-Ml accorded In hiiii ami to our lejn'c- 
sentative in ('uba." 

The Primi' Minister at Madrid, realizing that trouble of a serious 
nature was likely to come from this alTair, cabled Weyler to discliarj^e 
the prisoner from custo<ly, and banish him from the i.slaml. 

Sanjitiilly immediately came to the Tuited States, where he was 
warmly received by his friends, and he has since been actively engaged 
in work for Cuba's fretMlom. 

Charles Scott, an emjdoye of tjie .Xmerican Gas Coiniiany, was 
arrest e<l at Kegl.i, charged with having Cuban pctstage stamjis in his 
pos.session. He was in s<ilitary confinement, in a damp, empty cell, 
five feet by eleven, for fourteen days. Once during his impri.sonment 
he was left for two days without even a drop of water. General Lee, 
then United States Consul at Havana, cablefl to Washington, asking 




GENERAL FITZHUGH LEE EX-CONSUL-GENERAL TO HAVANA 




CONSUL FITZHUGH LEES DEPARTURE IPOM HAVANA PRIOR TO DECLARATION 

OF WAR 




GENERAL MAXIMO GOMEZ— LEADER OF THE INSURGENTS OF CUBA 

A HERO WITH A HISTORY 




GENERAL MACEO-A LEADER OF THE INSURGENT ARMY OF CUBA 



AMERICANS IN SPANISH DUNGEONS. 201 

that arrangements be made to send war vessels to Ilavana, in case of 
necessity, and declaring that unless his requests were complied with, 
he would leave ttie island. In this affair, as in majiy others. General 
Lee proved that he was the right man in the right place, for it was 
due to his efforts in Scott's behalf that he was finally given his lib- 
erty. 

Mr. Charles Michaelson, a newspaper coiTespondent, and his inter- 
preter, were imprisoned in Moito Castle as suspects. It requirc^l fine 
detective work to discover this fact, for they were missing for some time 
before it was definitely known that they were in the clutches of Wey- 
ler, but the "Butcher" finally admitted it, and after a. short delay was 
persuaded by the United States Consul to release them. Mr. Michael- 
son's treatment was almost binital in its nature. 

The interior of the castle is like a dungeon, and he was compelled 
to sleep on the floor, as a hammock sent to him by friends outside was 
not given to him till the d«y of his release. His food was thrown to 
him through the bars of the door, and meals sent in to him were eaten 
by the guards. Eats were his constant companions, a,nd when, occa- 
sionally, he would sink into a light slumber, he would be suddenly 
awakened to find one of the animals in his hair, another burrowing 
under his coat, and still another making a meal on his shoes. On one 
occasion he threw a shoe at a rat, which struck the door of his cell, 
whereupon the guard threatened to punish him for a breach of prison 
discipline, the noise being against the rules. 

Walter Dygart relates his expei'ience while the enforced guest of 
the Spanish government. It is evident that the keeper of a pi-ison in 
Cuba has a profitable occupation. 

"A child may weep at brambles" smart, 
And maidens when their lovers part; 
But woe worth a country when 
She sees the tears of bearded men." 

"These lines by the poet, Scott, recurred to me when I saw aged 
men weeping and heart-broken at being separated from their fami- 
lies and shut up in this hell. But why does the Spanish goverament 
shut up helpless cripples and non-combatants? This is a question that 
puzzled me for some time, but I finally solved it, and will answer it 
after I have described the food and water. 

"A little after six in the morning we were, each of us, given a very 



2U2 A.MKIilfAXS IX SPANISH DlXCKctXS. 

small cup of coflVe. The tiisl meal of the «lay, if it could be called a 
meal, cauie after uiue o'clock. It consistcnl of a little rice, which was 
generally dirty, a few small potatoes, boiled witli tiieir skius ou, and 
often partly rotten, a little piece of boiled salt beef, or beef cut up in 
small bits, with souj), just about half euou<:ii, and of the ^poorest 
quality. The uunit was tiften siM)iled and unlit for anything but a 
vulture to eat. Tiie second and last meaJ of the day came ab(»ut four 
in the afternoim, and was the same as the first. 

"I had no ojiportuuity to count the i>risoners, l»ut 1 ieaiiied dial 
there were about ISO on the average ctinfined liiere. I learned as 
delinitely a.s I could, without seeing tlie contract, that a certain jtarty 
iiai! tlic contract to feed these prisoners at twenty-live cents each pir 
day. Thus he gets §45 a day, and I learned that the food cost.s him 
oidy $7 to ?8 a day, and, as some of the prisoners did the cooking, his 
profit lan be readily seen. (>u sucli a contract he could afford to 
<]i\ide willi the judge and aiiiiy ollicers to keeji the |irisi)n full." 

A Minister of the Gospel in Morro Castle. 

Tile SoiillicMii r.ajilist .Missionary Smieiy lias a inissiim in the city 
of Havana, and it was formerly in cliarge of iiev. .Mhcilo .1. Diaz, 
wiiose liome is in flie I'niled Stales. Ever loyal In his Hag, and be- 
lieving in the institutions of his countiw, he lost no oiiiiorlunily to 
]M'ea<ii civil as well as icligifins liberty, and though often warned to 
desist, by llii' Spanisli authorities, he coiitiiniecl ilic ionise wliii-li he 
regarded as ids solemn tliity. He gives iiai-liiuiais nf liis arrest as fol- 
lows: 

"About llii'ee o'clo( k one nioinln;; I was aroused by a knock at 
the door of my lionse, and w lien I ojiened it I saw some tifly or sixty 
Siianish soldiers, with their guns leveled at me. I (piickly shut the 
iloor and lalkcfl Ihrougli it. The ca])tain said he must search tlie 
house, and 1 consented to let three men come in. They spent seven 
hours looking through two irnrdis full of sermons, and other papers, 
ami when the search was completed they hail fonml no incrimin;iting 
documents.'' 

Xeverlhele.s.s, both Dr. Diaz and his brother were imprisone<l in 
.Morro Castle. They were tried for treasonable ullerances and .sen- 
tenced to deatli. I'ortunately one of the sentri<'S of the prison was a 
number of Dr. Diaz's <liurch, and through his kind olTice.s, a mes.sage 
was .sent to the presich-nt of fix- Soutlnrn Itapti.st Mi.ssiouary Society 



AMEKICANS IN Sr.VXISlI DUN'CEO.XS. 203 

in Atlanta. ITe communicated with tUc^ authorities at Washiufj^on, 
This resulted .in the execution beinf;- ])ostpoued, and the bi'others were 
accorded moi-e humane treatment than the^- had received heretofore. 

Dr. Diaz now addressed a telegram to our Secretary of State, giv- 
ing the particulars of the arrest, trial and conviction, and appealing 
to him to demand their immediate release. The message was smug- 
gled on board a boat bound for Key West, and Weyler, hearing of it, 
at once cabled to Washington that Diaz had been released. ITe, with 
his brother and his family, was compelled to leave the island by the 
first steamer, and they returned to the United States. 



ClIArTHK XXVII. 

MACEO DEAD I'.V TKEA» IIKItV. 

A Crcjit Lt-adfr in :i Cifiit ("inisc — A Modern Jndns — Tlic Wortliv Son of a 
Nol)lc Sin" — Till- Fjiicwcll l.tttcr — An Ksdniate of Maci'o'.s ('haractcr 
— KcjoiiinK Ainonjj; S]ianisii SiiiipoHrrs — Tlicii- Mistaken Hrlicf — I'a- 
triotic Aidor of (he Insiiij;cnis. 

In tlif dcatii of Antonio Maicn the Cuhaii canse lost one of its 
stn»nj;cst defenders. Besides beinj; a niaji of a<ute intelk'ct, ;md a yen- 
eral of <^i"eat military skill, he had the rare {ifift of ixn-soual niaguet- 
isn>, and no one ever followed his leadershi]) Avho did not feel for him 
the devotion which often j;ives e()ura<'e to rowanls and makes heroes 
in the time of need. 

That his deatii was due to treachery tliere is liillc duuhl. l»iictx)r 
Zertncha, his jdiysician and trusted friend, is accused of having be- 
trayed him to the Spaniards. An Insurgent otlicei', who was with the 
general wIk-u lie re<eive<l his death wound, says that tin y liranl gnu 
shots in the \icinity of I'linta Hrava. Zertiicha galloiM-d inio the 
brush a short dist;ince and rcluiiied, calling to tlicni to Inlluw hiui. 
Maceo at once juit spurs to his limsc, and, fnllowcd by iiis aides, rode 
swiftly after the physician, wlm jilMugi'd into I lie thick gi'owl li on the 
side of the roail. They ha<l ridddi only a slinri distance, wlim Zer- 
tucha. suddeidy bent low in liis saddle and swerved shai|ily to one 
side, gallojiing away like mad. Almost at. the same moment a volley 
was fired by a jKirly of Spanish scddiers hidden in the dense under- 
brush, ami Ma<-eo and four nf his aides di'opiied out of theii" saddles 
mortally wounded. 

Tlie single survivor, the one who tells this story, mauagcMl to make 
his way back to his own nn-u, and brought them up to the scene of the 
trn^jedy, but llie bodies had been removed, and when iliey were tinally 
discovered, they had been mutilated in a most shocking manner. It 
was then learned that one of the victims Avas Franciseo Gomez, a son 
of the Comma nder-in-Ohief of the Cuban army, who wa.s one of 
Maceo's aides. It seems that his wound was not necessarily a fatal 
one, but he refused to leave his dying commander, and rather than to 

Q04 



MACKO DMA I) ItV TKEACIIKKV. 205 

fall alive in the hands of his foes, he roniiuittcd suicide. Tiiis letter 
was found in his hand: 

Dear ^Maiiniia, I'apa, Dear BrotliiT.s: I dii' at tiiy i)()st. I did not want to 
abandon the body of (ienoral Maceo, and I stayed with him. I was wounded 
in two phiees, and as I did not fall into the hands of the enemy I have killed 
myself. I am dying. I die pleased at being in the defense of the Cuban 
cause. I wait for you in the other world. Your son, 

FKAXCISCO GOMEZ. 

Torro in 8an Donnngo. 

(Friends or foes, please transnnt to its destination, as re(iuested by one 
dead.) 

Dr. Zertneha surrendered to a Spanish olficer shortly after Maceo 
•was killed, lie said that the dead leader was discouraged by the con- 
tinual failures of the insurgents to make any headway against their 
foes; that, on account of his color, the subordinate officei-s in the 
Cuban ranks did not show proper respect for him, or obedience to his 
commands, and that he had purposely plactnl himself in range of the 
enemy's rifles, deliberately seeking death. 

These statements are manifestly false, and go far to conflnn the 
belief that the coward who made tliem had a guilty knowledge con- 
cerning the manner of the death of the brave soldier he maligned. 

An Estimate of Maceo's Character. 

A gentleman who made Maceo's acquaintance in Ilavana, prior to 
the present insurrection, gives this estimate of his character: 

"Maceo was a natural politician in that he had the genius of divin- 
ing popular opinion, and taking the leadership of popular movements. 
He was in Ilavana at that time sounding men and scheming for the 
present revolution. He w^as always of the sunniest disposition, closely 
attaching all people to him,' and a man of the strictest moral integrity. 
He never drank wine, he never smoked, and that in a land where to- 
bacco is as common as potatoes in Ireland, and he never played cards. 
He had a great abhorrence of men who drank to excess, and would 
not tolerate them about him. 

"He always dressed, when in Havana, in the most finished style. 
His massive frame — he was about five feet ten inches in lieiglit and 
unusually broad shouldered — was displayed to advantage always in 



VUG MACEO l»EAIt i:V TUKACHKHV. 

frock coat, closoly buttoned, and he usually wore a silk hat. lie was 
ueat, even to fastidiousness, in his di-ess. lie usually carried a cane. 

''When MaciH) took the field, however, he roujjfhed it with his men, 
and dressed accordingly. When in battle he carried a lonfr-baneliHl 
ys-caliber revolver with a mother-of-pearl handle, and a Tidedo blade 
made in the form of a machete. The handle of this machete was 
finely wroufiht silver and turcjuoise shell, and had four notches in it, 
into which the fin{^ei*s could easily fit. Maceo always had tJire<' horses 
Willi iiim on his marche.s, the favorite bein-r a bi<j: white one." 

I'robably no event in the war up to that time cau.sed such {general 
satisfaction among the supportei-s of the existing government, both 
in <'uba and in Spain, as the death of Maceo. When Jose Marti was 
killeil, they were cei-fain that the loss of tlia) leader would compel 
the insurrectionists to abandon hojK^s of success. On the contrary, 
it insjiired them with greater delerminaf ion than bcfctre. lUit the 
Sjianish sympathizers learntnl nothing from thai ex|ierience, and when 
it was definitely known that Maceo was no longer to be feared, they 
were unanimo\is in the belief that the end of the .struggle was at hand. 
Subse(|uent events have shown how little they knew of the kind of 
men with whom they were ;it war. 

"The blood of the luartyrs is the seed of tlie churrii," and every 
Cuban patriot who has fallen in this conquest of extennination has 
but a<ldi'<l fuel til the fires of liberty, wliicli are sweejiing Spanish 
rule from tlic island, lc;i\ing tin- tyrants nothing but tlic ashes of their 
hojies. 
I 



CHAPTER XXVIII. 

WEYLER'S KECONCEKTRATION TOLICY AND ITS HORRORS. 

The Object of the Phm— Shives of Spain— Tlie Massacre of the Iiiiioceiits— 
Deserted Fields and Farms — A Fearful Mortality — The (/ubans the 
Oldest Americans of Caucasian Blood — Women and Children Doomed 
to Die — An Appeal for Ilelp — Our Manifest Duly. 

When General Wevler promulgated his policy of reconcentration 
he hj'pocritically claimed that it was intended to protect tlie noncom- 
batant peasantry of the island, but his sole object was to compel them 
to put themselves wholly in the power of the Spanish officials. No 
one knew better than the "Butcher" that the Ctiban peasant, no mat- 
ter what he might publicly profess, wa.s bound with all his heart to 
the cause of free Cuba, and that he never lost an opportuuity to aid 
the insurgents by every means in his power. And when he formulated 
the plan compelling them to abandon their homes in the rural district.s, 
and to herd like sheep in the cities and towns which were still under 
his rule, it was to prevent them from giving aid and information to the 
rebels. He must have known that the enforcement of this edict meant 
certain starvation to thousands of the inoffensive inhabitants, but no 
thought of the misery and injustice which he thus wrought upon them 
deterred him in his determination to crush the unhappy people, and 
keep them still the slaves of Spain. 

The order found a very large proportion of the working classes 
absolutely destitute of money, and the men, knowing there was no 
work for them in the towns, hesitated about going with their families, 
while they did not dai'e to remain in their poor homes, where, at least, 
they could be sure of food. The consequence was that thousands of 
homes were deserted. The Avomen and cliildren were sent to the towns 
to look out for themselves as best they could, while the men joined the 
insurgent army. In a number of cases wives refused to be separated 
from their husbands, and followed them into the ranks of the revolu- 
tionists, where they fought like tlie Amazons of old. Some of them 
found a melancholy pleasui-e in nursing the sick and wounded, others 
fought side by side with the men, and the fear of death was not half 

207 



20S WKYLKKS KKCONC IKNTKATK )N roLlCV. 

as strung as tlic thouglits <if tlu* biirnirs which awaited theui at their 
huiues, or aiuuug the reeouceutrados in the ti»wus, Marria<;es have 
beeu solemnized, and children have been born upon the lields of battle. 
Spain is nursinj^ a forhtrn hope when she eounts on subduinj^ jtatriots 
like these. 

Women and Children Doomed to Die. 

llou. C". \\'. Kiissell, an altache ol' the l)i'])artnieut of , Justice of the 
United 8tat.es, went to Cuba shortly aftw the order for reeoncentra- 
tion went into effect. It was his purpose to learn by personal observa- 
tion how much or how little truth there was iu the reports that had 
come to this country re<;ardin<j the terrible sulTerinfi aimmj; the i-econ- 
centrados. lie .states the residt of his iuvestiijations as follows: 

"I si)ent just two weeks in (''ul)a, visited Havana, went .south to 
Jaruco, .southwest to (Inines, northea.st to Matanza.s, eastwardly about 
two hundred miles (hrougii the middle of the country to San Dominjjjo, 
Santa Clara and Saj^ua la (iramle. I visited Marianao, a sliort dis- 
tau<e west of Havana, and saw alonif the railroad thirty or forty town.s 
or station.s. In Havana I visited the Fossos, thehosjdtal pri.son at Alde- 
coa, where I talked with the father of Kvanjjelina Cisneros, and a place 
called the Jacoba. I found reconcentrados at all three i)laces, and beg- 
pnj; everywhere about the streets of Havana. 

"The sjiectacle at the Fossos and Jacoba houses, of woincii and chil- 
dren emaciattnl to skeletons and sulTerinji from disea.ses pidiliicid by 
starvation, was sickeninj;. In Saj^ua I saw .some sick and emaciated 
little jiirls in a children's hospital, started three days before by charit- 
able Cuban.s, ami saw a crowd of miserable hx^kiufj reconcenl ratios 
with tin buckels and other receptacles <ieltinic small alhiwances 
of food doled out lo them in a yard. In the same city, in an old snj;ar 
warehouse, I saw stationed arouml tlie inside walls the rciiiiiauts of 
twenty or thirty Cuban families. 

"In one case the remnant cousisiid of two ( iiil<li-cii, seven or eight 
years old. In another case, where 1 hilkrd lo tlie people in broken 
Sfianish, there were four individuals, a molhei', a girl of fonrteen, and 
two quite small girls. The smallest was then sulTeriug from malarial 
fever. The next had the signs on her hands, with which I had be<oine 
familiar, of having had that dreadful disease, the beri-beri. These four 
were all that order of concentration had left alive of eleven. At San 
Domingo, where two railroads join, the depot was crowded with 



A^'EYLEKVS RECONCEXTKATION I'OLICY. 209 

women ami iliildreu, one of the latter, as I remiMnber, beinj^ swollen 
up with the beri-beri, begging in the most earnest way of the few 
passengers. 

"San Domingo is little more than a railroad station in times of 
peace, but at present it has a considerable population, living in cabins 
thatched with the tops of royal palm trees, composed of the survivors 
of the reconcentrados. The huts are arranged close together in a little 
clump, and the concentration order re(juired and apparently still re- 
quires these people to live within a circle of small block houses, com- 
monly dignified in the dispatches by the name of forts. They ha.d no 
work to do, no soil to till, no seed to plant, and only begging to live on. 
I do not know the exact measure of the dead-line circle drawn around 
them, but there was certainly nothing within it upon which a human 
being could subsist. Practically they were prisoners. At every one 
of the numerous stopping place's along the road a similar collection of 
huts could be seen, and at most of them beggai-s, often nice looking 
women and beautiful children, invaded the cars. Between the sta- 
tions, although I traveled always by daylight, as the ti-ains do not run 
at night, and I was observing a.s carefully as iwssible, I saw no signs of 
the reconcentrados going away from the forts. If they hiul gone, it 
takes seed, instruments, land, and three or four months to raise the 
vegetable which could be soonest produced, and nowhere away from 
the block houses was there any sign of vegetables gro-wing. Near the 
larger towns the circle of concentration seemed to be somewhat larger, 
and some planting of vegetables, tobacco, etc., seemed to be going on. 
At this a very few persons, possibly some of the reconcentrados, found 
employment. 

Deserted Fields and Farms. 

"All along the railroad, as far as could be seen, were stretches of 
the most fertile and beautiful countiy, with very few trees, even on 
the low mountains, and most of these royal palms. I saw many dozens 
of burned canefields, and one evening, going from Guines to ITavana, 
saw the sky all lighted up along the road with fires, pnncipally of the 
tall grass of the country, but partly of cane. The whole land was lying 
perfectly idle, except that I saw two or three or four sugar mills where 
cane was growing, but in all such instances the mill and cane were 
surrounded by forts, manned by soldiers, who are paid, I was told, by 
the owners. Except in the cities, I saw no indication that any relief 



•,'lti W KVI.KICS KKt'ONCKNTKATlON ruLUV. 

whaU'ver was bt-iuj; affoi-»le<l to Ihe starviu<f jM^jple. N'l'ithiT in 
Havana nor elsewhere did any priest, religious woman or other person 
seem to be paying any attention to the wa-nts of tJie starving, excejit 
that at the Fossos, and some other plates, eharitable Cubans were nurs 
ing the sick. The Church, being a state institution, was, so far as I 
coukl see, leaving the victims without either bodily or sjjiritual ndief. 
In fact, the general air of iniiinVrence to sulTciiug which seemed to 
prevail everywhere was astonisliing. 

A Fearful Mortality. 

"As the counti-j- was stnpped of its pt)pulation by the order of con- 
centraticm, it is easy to believe that 400,000 jx'i-sons were gathertnl 
behind the forts without being given food, medicine, or means of any 
kind to earn a living, excejit where in the larger cities .some few could 
fiiKl employment in menial olVues. Judging by the orphans I w;i8 
shown at Jacoba, Aidecoa and elsewhere, and from all I saw and heard, 
I believe that half of the 100,0(10 have died as the result of starvation. 
I know from the ofllciai register of (he city of Santa (Mara, wliicli ordi- 
narily has a po])ula(ion of about 11,000, that, tlie deaths foi- November 
were over 1,000, and the number of deaths for December was over ;tOO, 
and siioweil an increa.se, consi<lering the loss of tlie former 1,000, from 
its t(»ta! population. The exact ligures for December are 971. At that 
city the government was «listributing HOO single nitions per day out of 
a total ajiitrojiriation for tlie pur]»ose of $1."),000. This was not relief, 
but a mere j>rolongation of (lie sufTerings of a siiiall pari of llie recoil- 
cent rados of the city. 

"Stt far as any evidence of idicf was visilih- to my eyes or was even 
heard of by me in all my talks on (lie island, the surviving L'00,000 peo- 
ple are in the same condition and have the' same prospect of staivatiou 
before them as had tlieir kindred who have died. There is as much 
need of miHlicine now as food, and they are getting neithei-. The rea.son 
given by the Si>anish symjialhizei's in Cuba is that the troops must be 
lii-st fed, and it is certain that many of the soldiers are sick ami suffer- 
ing for want of proi>or food. I sjiw many myself that l(M>ked so. I was 
informed on all sides that they had not been paid for eight months, 
and that most of the civil officials had not been paid for a similar 
jK'rirnl. It is, thereff)re, most probable that Spain is practically unable 
to supply the millions which are immediately necessary to prevent the 



WEYLER'S RECONCENTRATION POLirV. 211 

death of most of the surTiving reconcentrados, but this leads to polit- 
ical questions, which I desire to avoid. 

Our Manifest Duty. 

"I wish merely to state in such a way as to be convincing that in 
consequence of the concentration of tlie people, some 200,000 Cubans 
are daily suffering and dying from diseases produced by a lack of 
nourishment, in the midst of what I think must be the most fertile 
country in the world, and that something must be done for them on a 
large scale, and at once, or a few months will see their extermination. 
So far as I could see, they are a patient, amiable, intelligent set of peo- 
ple, some of them whom I saw begging having faces like Madonnas. 
They are Americans, probably the oldest Americans of European 
descent. Constant intercourse with the United States has made them 
sympathize with and appreciate us, who are but six hours b\- boat from 
them, if we do not sympathize with or care for them. No order or per- 
mission from General Blanco can save the lives of many of them. 
Indeed, many are too far gone to be saved by the best care and treat- 
ment. 

"There Avas no indication of a cessation of hostilities by the insur- 
gents. If they do not voluntarily cease, their tactics are such that 
Spain cannot conquer them, if at all, before the reconcentrados will 
have had the finishing stroke. 'But even the speedy termination of the 
war would not save many of tliem. ^yhat they need is instant pecu- 
niary assistance to the extent of |U0,000 a day, distributed by our con- 
suls. Private charity, it seems, will hardly produce the amount. 
Twenty thousand dollars would be but ten cents apiece for medicine, 
clothes and food. When I left Havana I was infonued that Consul 
General Lee had received $5,000 and some hundreds of cans of con- 
densed milk. As there are about 30,000 sufferers in Ilavana alone, the 
inadequacy of such contributions is manifest. Whether Congress 
should make an appropriation, as in tlie case of the San Domingo 
refugees and other cases, it is not for me to say, but I beg the clinrit- 
able to believe the statement of facts which I have made, and try to 
realize what they mean." 

A corresj>ondent in Cuba gives an iiitcresling account of a case tiiat 
came under his notice among the recouccntrados in the town of Guad- 
aloupe. It is substantially as follows: 



212 WEVI.EKS KKCOMKXTIIATION" I'Ol.ICV. 

Ill Jill miseiy-ridden Cuba there is no towu in whirli tlie reip^ of 
misery is so absolute as in (Jua(laloui)e. Even the situation of this 
l>lace might be said to be in "tlie valley of the shadow of death." It is 
not upon tlie eaiHi's surface, but far below, in a broad, deep hole. The 
all-suiTouudinj;- hills are not jjjreen, but black. For these up-sloping 
lield.s, ui)on which many a rich tobacco crop has been raised, lie now 
under blackening ashe.s — the work of insurgent torches. In this low- 
lying town ^{,000 reconcentrados aiv naked, shelterless and starving. 
That aid has not come to them till now is because of the ingratitude 
and treachery of two of their own number. 

As the two guilty ones have ju.st paid the ])eiuilty of their crime, the 
lied Cross Society will i)i-obably have a relief coi-ps in Guadaloupe by 
the time this letter is printed. 

The tragedy of (luadaloupe, to the denouement of wliicii I was an 
eyewitness, shows that the insurgents have learned the art of butch- 
ery as taught by the Spanish, and that a reconcentrado Avill sometimes 
betray the Samaritan who iielps him. A faithful inulc^' carried me into 
(iuadaloupe at 2 o'clock in the afternoon, the siesta hour. I had come 
fi"oni the coast many miles away, over the hills. As I rode into the 
town, I said to the mule: "The next artist who is given an order to 
illiLstrate Dante's 'Inferno' ought to come here. lie could draw from 
life, pictures more infernal than a mere human mind could conceive." 

Reconcentrados lay everv'where under the broiling sun. The mule 
picked his way between human heaps fhat looked like so many little 
mounds of rags. Skeleton legs and arms profi-iided from out the 
heai)s. Soft moans of motluM's and the wailing of liitlc diildrcii gave 
evidence of so many living deaths. 

One Kind-hearted Spaniard. 

I presented my credentials to tlic comniandantc He was the most 
genial Si>anish oflicial I had met between Havana and Guadaloupe. 
When he smiled, his face was all kindness. When he spoke of the 
reconcentrados, tears welle<l from his eyes. Yet around his mouth and 
chin were the cruel lines of a nature as stem as it was commiserative. 
He told me that the hospital was full, always full; there was room in 
its wards for oidy 200 jiatient.s, and only one doctor for all. AH who 
entered tliat ]>lace of sickness came out of it, ncjt cured, but dead. Three 
Hiousaml iiuniau beings, mostly women and ciiildren, had pa.ssed away 



WEYLER'S RECONCEXTRATIOX POLICY. 213 

iu that town in three months. Nearly all had died of .starvation and 
exposure. When the cemetery was full, they began burying iu the still 
burning tobacco fields on the hillsides. 

But it was the siesta hour. The commandante excu.sed himself, 
saying he would rest awhile and advised me to do the same. 

The commandante's house was in the center of the town. Kound 
about was a circle of the houses of those who had owned the tobacco 
lields. Beyond these homes of the well-to-do were hundreds of huts. 
In these lived the reconcentrados, several families in each, or as many 
as could huddle within and not pull the roughly constructed frame of 
palm stalks down about their heads. Outside the circle of huts were 
the blackened fields and hills. On the tops of the hills, at intervals 
of 200 yards, was a circle of small houses that looked like sentry boxes. 
They were really little forts, with four soldiers in each. Beyond the 
forts were, heaven only knows how many, insurgent guerillas, lynx- 
eyed human watch dogs, always lurking and waiting for a chance to 
swoop upon one of the little forts, slay the gaiTison of four and dash 
back into the bushes. 

A Soldier's Ghastly Burden. 

At this moment not a soldier wa.s in sight. Perhaps all were sleep- 
ing, like the commandante. Or perhaps the soldiers always remained 
inside the bari'icades surrounding their forts, fearing that to step out- 
side would be to attract the bullets of the lurking insurgents. For 
such is warfare in Cuba's hills to-day; much the same sort of warfare 
our American forefathers knew when each man who stepped from his 
doorT\-ay was likely to become a target for the arrows of the lurking 
aad invisible redskins. 

I was making a mental note of this picture of war and niiser\-, when 
suddenly I saw a human form on the hilltop over which I had just 
come. The peculiar shape of the white hat worn by this, apparition 
told me it was a soldier. In the middle of the white road he stopped, 
lowered a burden from his shoulders to the ground. What was that 
soldier doing tliere and what was the nature of his apparently heavy 
burden? From my perch on the balcony I beckoned to the sentry, who 
was pacing up and down in front of the commandante's house. The 
sentry came up to the balcony, took one look in the direction of my 
pointing finger, and then rushed into the house. The next moment the 



2U \YEVLEIiS RECONCEXTIJATIOX POLICY. 

commandante appearetl. With a field glass he surveyed the liguiv on 
the hilltop. 

"lie is (.arning .something," I said, as I watched the man iu the dis- 
tance reshoulder his buideu aud begin descending the hill. 

"A dead man," siiid the commandante. And he closed the glasses, 
thoughtfully. Then he gave me a lt»ng black cigar. 

We waited. At the end of half an hour the soldier ai>i>n)aLhed the 
house. Yes, on his back lit* was tarrying a i-Drpse. 

Tell-tale Scrap of Paper. 

Jle laid his burtlen down iu ilie loati ami sainted the commantlante. 
A group of ottitei-s and s^ddiers had gathered round. The botly was 
that of a notetl insurgent cajjfain. A scraj) of i^qn'r was ])rt)tluce<l. It 
hail been ftiuntl in the tleatl man's jweket by the solilier whtt had car- 
ried the body into town. 

The ttimmaiitlante reail the jvajK-r. IIisl)i<iw idniracti'tl. XdW lie 
was all sternness. 

"luring the man, Ji)se Manual, here," he said to a sergt-aut. 

Five minutes later an old man, all bones ami skin, stooil lufure us. 
The miserable man trembled as with the ii.ilsy. 

"Si, senor, I tlid it. 1 ran tivfr llic liill. I iiifoniifil. I alniic am lt> 
blame." 

Kvitleiilly tlif wi-ctili knew of wliat lie was acfust-d. It was also 
ajtparent that he was not tho tinly giiilly t»ne. 

"Who wrote this for yttu?" the ctmimandantf asked. 

"I tlid, senor; I wrote it." 

"The man lie.s," murnuiretl one of tiit- odiit-rs. 

"Bring hither tlie st»n of Jose Manual," was the next onlor. 

With that, another skelffon, a young one, steiiju'il forward. 

"I am here, senor, and T wrote the note. That is all. WC two, senor. 
I wrote and my father ran. lie was stronger, that ilay, than even my 
younger btmes." 

The commantlante compressed his lijis. lit- tunittl fo the scrgi-ant 
and .saiil: "Af siin.set have these two men -^liot." 

Tiie two men merely spat U])iin the grountl. For them death evi- 
dt'Utly ha<l no terrors. As they were letl away tlioy made the sign of 
the tross again ami again upon tht-ir naked breasts. A huntlred starv- 
ing wretthes fidltiwetl them in silence. 



WEVLER'S KECONCENTKATION TOLICY. • 215 

When we were again aJoue on the balcony — a broad, square bal- 
cony it was — the commandaute noticed my look of inquiry. 

"The story can be briefly told," he said. "Yon are simply the wit- 
ness of a tragedy that had its beginning on this veiy balcony one 
month ago. I sent word by the priest to a lady in Havana — an English 
lady — that we had 4,000 staiwing people in this town. Could she help 
lis? Always generous, beneficent, self-sacrificing, the lady responded 
in person. She came by the coast steamer, landetl at broad noon, trav- 
ersed the two miles over which you came a few hours ago from the 
coast, bringing with her seven ox-cart loads of provisions, clothing 
and medicine. With her came her daughter, a j'oung girl just over 
from England. Their charit}' was distributed from this verj' balcony 
to the starving people. The distribution occupied two entire days. 
Out of 4,000 people, 2,000 were given food and clothing and medicine. 
She promised the other half equal relief as soon as she could go to 
Havana and return again with the stores. On the night before she 
was to leave us the ladies and gentlemen of the leading families here, 
together with the officers of my staff, proposed to give the good Samari- 
tans a banquet. The proposal was accepted. All gathered for the 
bauquet on this balcony. I draped the front of the house in the Span- 
ish colors, and hung out all the available lamps. That illumination 
was our ruin. Thirty-four sat down to dine. Only thii'ty lived through 
the first course. Of a sudden a hailstorm of bullets was poured into 
our midst. A bottle of wine in front of me flew into bits. Not a whole 
plate or a whole glass was left. We sprang up and fled into the house. 
Not all of us, though. No. Three men — three of my best officers — had 
fallen from their chairs, dead. The other — oh, God!" 

English Samaritan Murdered. 

The commandante could not contiuue. He made a gesture indicat- 
ing that I was to step into the house. 

In his room he openerl a huge wardrobe and took out a jacket, a 
tiny coat, such as might be worn by a soldier boy. The sleeves were 
loaded with the gold lace and golden stars of a colonel in the Spanish 
army. On the left side of this jacket or coat was a ragged hole. 

"The bullet entered here," the commandante said, sorrowfully. "It 
pierced her heart. The poor mother carried her dead back to Havana. 
That is all." 



21C WKVLER'S RECONCEXTKATIoX POLICY. 

I undiTstood. A fatal volley bad boon poured into tbat dinner 
jiarty hy in.snr<;outs on tbe billtops, Tbo bouse was in tbe center of Lbe 
town, and tbe lamps illuuiiuatin<; tbe Sjtanisb coloi-s bad rendereil tbe 
balcony tbe best of tarj^ets. Tbose Sjianisb officers and an innocent 
younj^ Englisb girl, a Samaritan, were murdered. 

And l»y wlioni? By tbe insurgents, wbo were guided to tbe billtops 
by two of tbe Very reconcentrados wbom tbe victims bad saveil tliat 
day from starvation. One bad written a note informing tbo insurgents 
of tbe circumstance, time, and place of tbe banquet. Tbe otber bad 
dellvei-ed tbe note to one of tbe murdc-rers. Fatbor and son were 
equally guilty of ingratitude and treacbeiT. Tbe incriminating note 
bad IxH'U fouiul on tbe dead bod}' of tbe insurgent caiitain, carrio*] into 
town by tin- soldier of Spain. 

The Sad Final Scene. 

At sunset a squad of twenty men, armed ami in cbarge of a first 
lieutenant, tiled out of tbe barracks. In front of tbe sfpiad marcbed 
tbe two j)risonors, tbcir arms tied togetber above tbe clliows, Ix-liind 
tbeir back.s. Bebind ilic soldiers came perbaj^s a tliniisjiinl of tlie 
wrctcbod and starving. 

No murmuring, no uplifling of ;iriiis, nolbiiig but soIcimm sib-nee. 
In front of a wall, lining one of tbe blackened fields, tbe prisoners 
were made to kneel down. A priest st(M>d over tbem six-aking tbe last 
con.'^ding words. 

Out of tbe squad of twenty soldiers, eigbt stcppi-d fnriii and li'vcled 
tbeir rifles at tbe kneeling fatber and son. 

Tbe eigbt sbofs sfiundod as one, and one of tiie blackest crimes of 
tbis atrocious war was exf>iated. 



CHAPTER XXIX. 

AMERICAN INDIGNATION (IKOWING. 

The Aniericau IVople Favor Cuba — Infiucnci' of tlie Press — Haired of 
Wevler — Geiu'ral Lee's Reports of the Ilorrors of the War — The 
Question of Annexation — Spanish Soldiers Oppose American Aid for 
the Sutl'ering — Consuhir Reports From the Island. 

The people of the United Slates, from the coniniencement of the war, 
have been deeply interested iu the success of the Cuban cause. The 
leading journals, with hardly an exception, have upheld the revolution- 
ists, and have been largely instrumental in arousing our government to 
action. The following editorial is one of many on the subject which 
voiced the popular feeling, and gave hope to the struggling band of 
patriots, both in the United Htates and Cuba: 

"Qiba bleeds at every pore, and Liberty goes weeping through a 
land desolated by cruel war and throttled by the iron hand of a foreign 
despotism. We hold that this government would be justified not only 
in recognizing Cuban belligerency, but also in recognizing Cuban inde- 
pendence, on the sole ground of the rights and claims of outraged hu- 
manity. ... In consequence of Weyler's barbarous decrees the 
most harrowing scenes of savagery and brutality are of almost daily oc- 
currence in this beautiful island, which is situated a hundred miles from 
our Florida coast line. In the midst of these horrifying and ten-orizing 
spectacles Cuba extends her hand in supplication to this land of boasted 
freedom, asking only for a kindly glance of friendly recognition. 

"Shall we refuse this small crumb of comfort from our bounteous 
board? Spain may have the right to expect American neutrality, but 
she has no right to demand iudifl'erence on our part to the fate of a brave 
people, whose tf^mtory almost touches our own, and is nearer to our na- 
tional capital than are a number of the States of tlie Union, and whose 
heroic stniggle for liberty was largely inspired by our glorious example 
of beneficent free institutions and successful self-government. 

"Spanish rule in Cuba has been characterized by injustice, oppres- 
sion, extortion, and demoralization. She has fettered the energies of 
the people, while she has fattened upon their industry. She smiled but 



218 A.MIOHICAN INIUCNATloX CKoWlNc;. 

to suiitt', and I'liibrait'd but to c-rush. She has (lishearleneil exertion, 
(Jistjualitied merit, and destroyed patience and forbearance, by support- 
ing in riotous luxury a horde of foreijjn olticials at the expense of native 
industry and fruj^-ality. 

"Irritated into resistance, the Cubans an- now tlie intt-nded victims 
of increased injustice. I5ut ilie iniuiman desi<;n will fail of accomplish- 
ment. Cuban patriotism develops witii tiie j^rowth of ojipression. The 
aspiration for freedom increases in proportion to the weight of its multi- 
plied ciiaiiis. The dawn of Cuban liberty is rapidly ajiproachinji;.'' 

Consular Reports of Suffering in the Island. 

(!fiicral l,cc"s icpciHs cover llic piiind liuui Novcuiber IT, IS'.H, to 
Ajiril 1, 1S!IS. Much of the correspondence is marked conlidciilial. 
Only cxcerptsare jiivcn in many instances, (ieneral I^ee's first (lis|ialch 
related III the modifyiu;; of <ieneral W'eyler's ccuiceiil ration (Uijii- by 
Ceueral lilanco. in his communication lu> says: 

•'First. The insurj,feuts will not acce]»t auliUKUiiy. 

"Second. A lar;;f majority of the Spaidsh subjects wIki lia\e com- 
mercial and business int<'rests and dwu [d'operty here will iml accejit 
autonomy, but prefer annexation tn I lie I'niled Slates rallier than an 
inde]iendent republic or "cniiine aiilniininy inidei' the Spanish llai;." 

The remaiuiler of the letter is devoted In Jilails fel- the leliel' (if the 
n-concentrado.s. 

"In this city," iu' writes, "matters are assnminj,' better shap<' under 
<harilable committees, l.arj^^e nuudiei-s are now carcHl for and fed by 
jirivati- suliscrijilions. I witnessed many terrible scenes and s;iw sonn' 
die while I was jiresent. I am told (ieneral 151anro will },nve .<;i(l(l,()()() 
t(i the reli.-r fun. I." 

Annexation Desired. 

Ceneral I.ee writes iiU i)er(IMber j."!: 

"The ciintest fur and aj^ainst autonomy is most uiiei|ual. I'^or it 
there are live or six of lh<' head oflicers at the Palace :iiid Iwenly or 
thirty other persons here in llie riiy. Against it, first, ai'e the insur- 
<;eul.s, with fir withoni arms, ami the Cuban noncondtatants; second, 
the tireal mass of the Spainards bearin;: or not bearin;; ai'ius — the latter 
desirin;,', if there must be a chaufic, animxatifin to the Ignited States. 
Indeed, there is the fjreatest apathy concerniuir autonomy irv aiiy fonn. 
No one asks what it w ill be, or whiMi or how it will come. 



AMEKK'AN INDICNATION CHOWING. 219 

"I do not see bow it could even be jjut into operation by force, b(^ 
cause as long as the insurgents decline to accept it, so long, the Spanish 
authorities sav, the war must continue." 

(Jeneral Lee then describes the elToi-ts to form an autouomistic cabi- 
net in Cuba and the public disapprobation of the people. 

On Januai'j' 8 General Lee makes the following report: 

"Sir — I have the honor to state, as a matter of public interest, that 
the reconcentrado order of General \\'eyler, formerly governor-general 
of this island, transformed about four hundred thousand self-support- 
ing people, principally women and children, into a multitude to be sus- 
tained by the contributions of others, or die of starvation or of fevers 
resulting from a low physical condition and being massed in large 
bodies, without change of clothing and without food. 

"Their homes were burned, their tieldsand plant beds destroyed, and 
their live stock driven away or killed. 

"I estimate that probably two hundred thousand of the rural ])oini- 
lation in the provinces of Pinar del Kio, Havana, Matanzas, and Santa 
Clara have died of starvation or from resultant causes, and the deaths 
of whole families almost simultaneously, or within a few days of each 
other, and of mothers praying for their children to be relieved of their 
horrible sufferings by death are not the least of the many pitiable scenes 
which were ever present. In the provinces of Puerto Principe and San- 
tiago de Cuba, where the 'reconcentrado order' could not be enforced, 
the great mass of the people are self-sustaining. . . . 

"A daily average of ten cents' worth of food to two hundred thou- 
sand people would be an expenditure of .120,000 per day, and, of course, 
the most humane efforts upon the part of our citizens cannot hope to 
accomplish such a gigantic relief, and a great portion of these people 
will have to be abandoned to their fate." . . . 

On Januaiy 12, 13, 14 and 15 General Lee .sent brief cablegrams td 
the department in regard to those rioting and the demonstrations 
against autonomy and Blanco and the three newspaper offices. 

January 13 he said some of the rioters threatened to go to the United 
States consulate. "Ships," he said, "are not needed, but may be later. 
If Americans are in danger ships should move promi)tly fur Havana. 
TTncertainty and excitement widespread." The rioling ceased the next 
day and General Lee repoiled all quiet. 

On March 1 General Lee reports that the distribution of food, medi- 
cines, and clothing to the destitute is proceeding satisfactorily. The 



220 AMERIf-AX I XDIC NATION GRO^VI^'G. 

wttik, ho says, has bocii wt'll orjiiinizcil and systoniatizoil under tho su- 
jHTvision and direction of Miss ( 'hira Harton, president of the Re<l Cross 
of the United States, and her active, abh", and experienciMj assistant, 
lie inclosed a letter on March 14 from Consul Barker, of Saj^ua, who re- 
(|ucsts him to tiMusniit the fnllnwinu letter, which is a<ldr('sscd to him 
(Cicneral Ix'e): 

"Dear Sir — I will thank you to conimiinicate to the de|)artment as 
(piickly as i)ossible the fact that militaiy commander and other militiiry 
oflicers positively refuse to allow the nn-onceutrados, to whom I am issu- 
inj,' food in its raw stiite, to i>rocure fuel with which to conk the food. 

"In addition, they prohibited tiiis class of pcdplc li am only ^ivinj; 
food to about one-tifth of the destitute — the aulhniities have (piit alto- 
gether) from jiatheriny vej^etables cultivated within the jirotectiou of 
the forts, tellinj,' them 'the Americans propose to feed yon, and to the 
Americans you must look.'" 

(ieneral Lee rei)orts on March 2S that "instructions have been j,dveu 
l)y the civil jjovennnent of Havana that the alcaldes and other author- 
ities shall not j;ive out any fads about the icconceiitrados, and if any 
of the American relief commit tet-s should make incpiiries ciuiceniinj:; 
them, all such inijuiries must be referred to him." 

(Ieneral Lee's dispatches end with a disjiatch under ilate of Aiuil 1, 
transmittinj; the decree of llie ■^overnoi-ucneral terminaiinii llie con- 
cenlration oi-der. 

Consul Barker's Report. 

Consul r.arker covers the conditions exist in i,^ in Santa ( lata province 
in several comninnii ali<iiis, liej;inninjj on November L*0, 1S!I7, and dos- 
in<j on March 21 last. His letters cmistitute one lony story of distress, 
of sickness, destitution and ileath, until, indeed, the pictui*e, even as 
drawn in the jdain lan;;uage of otiicial communications, is revolting. 

Mf. 15aikei- devoted comparatively little space to political (piestions. 
( »idy one or two of his letters an* aloiii: t hese lines. I'ldbably (he most 
notable of these is his communication of .laniiary 1(1 last : 

"\\ hen Spain will admit <lefeal," he writ«'s, "no nu)rt;il, in my hum- 
ble jiidjiinenl, dare ])redict. That her plan of settlement — aiitoiKuny — 
is a failure, and that with this failiiic passes fifUii iimler her dominion 
the island, is not to be (piestioiied. Tendinj,' this admission on her part 
thousands of human beings, guiltless of bringing on or having any part 
in the in<iirreriioii, are dying for want of sustenance." 



AMERICAN INDIGNxiTlON GROWING. 221 

Mr. Barker theu suggests that residents iu Cuba be allowed to take 
out first papers under the naturalization laws before a consul iu Cuba, 
and that by this seheme, he thinks, Spain will be rebuked aud ehauge 
her laws. 

He adds that the relief from the United States must be contiuueil or 
the people must starve, so long as there is an aruu'd Spanish soldier in 
the country, "since these people, for fear of being murdered, do not go 
to their country homes." 

On January 15 Mr. Barker writes: "In this consular distiict a reign 
of terror and anarchy prevails, which the authorities, if so disposed, are 
utterly powerless to control or in any measure to subdue. A.side from 
the suffering and desperation caused by the unparalleled destitution, I 
regard the situation as rapidly assuming a critical stage. As stated 
heretofore, iu no way have the authorities departed froui the policy pur- 
sued by the late, but not lamented, General Weyler. Spanish troops, 
as well as the guerrillas under the cruel chiefs Carreraz, Oavarrietta, 
aud Lazo, continue to despoil the couutiy and drench it with the blood 
of noucombatauts. Although the 'bando' of the captain-general pro- 
vides that laborers may return to estates, it restricts their operaticms to 
those having a garrison. Last week a number belonging to the 'Sta. 
Ana' estate, located within a league of Sagua, and owned by ■George 
Thorndike of Newport, were driven off after returning, and refused a 
permit as a protection by the militaiy commander. Mayor Lemo, one of 
the trusted officers under the Weyler regime." 

Mr. Barker says that from February 15 to March 12 he cared for 
twelve hundred persons, increasing the number on the relief list after 
that date to two thousand. 

On March 24 Mr. Barker increased his estimate as to the amount of 
food necessary to keep life in the people of that province. He said that 
one hundred and fifty tons a month were nee<lful for that time, and 
that the distress was far greater than his former reports had shown. 
In the letter of this date he recounts the particulars of a visit to Santa 
Clara, where, he says, he learned from his own agents and also from 
the governor of the province that the number of persons in actual want 
exceeded any estimate which he had previously sent to the gwernment 
He had said only three days before that he thought twenty tons a month 
should be added to the eighty tons previously suggested. In a com- 
muuication of March 20 Mr. Barker says: "The distress is simply heart- 
rending. Whole families without clothing to hide nakedness are sleep- 



■42}i AMERICAN INKKiXATlON (iKOWlNXi. 

iug uu llie bare gi-uuiul, williuuL biddiny ol' aiiv kind, williout food, save 
siR-li as we have beeu able to reach with pruvisious seut bj' oiu- owu 
noble people; and the most distressinj;; feature is that fully ."0 per rent 
are ill, without medical atteudanee or medicine." 

Soldiers Oppose Aid. 

Mr. Barker adds that if >j;r),U(tU could be scut to Consul (Jeneral Lee, 
blankets, cots, and medicines could be purchased in Santa Clara, and 
thus save thousands who must die if ct)nipelled to await the sending- of 
these sui>plies from the United Slates. 

"I have," he says, "found the civil governor willing to lend eveiy aid 
in his power, but he admits that he can do nothing but assist with his 
civil officers in expediting relief sent by the United States. The mili- 
tary obstruct in every way possible." 

Consul Hyatt's Report. 

Writ inn on December."), .Mr. Hyatt said: "The recoucciiiratiou order 
is rela.xetl, but not removed; but many peopl(> have reached a jioiut 
where it is a nuitter of entire indilfereiice to tbem whether it is removed 
or not, for they have lost all interest in the ju-oblem of existence. A 
census of (he island taken to-day, as coinpared witli (me taken thi-ee 
yeai'S ago, I feel conlident would show lliat Iwolliirds of the residents 
are missing, and the Spanish army would make no belter showing." 

On December 14 Mr. Hyatt wrote: "The order of reconcentralion 
practically lias been wi|>ed out, and, so far as the S|>anish government 
is concerneil, men go about neaily as they please. Tlie insurgi'uts and 
their sympathizers will uncpiestiouably lake a<lvantage of the revocation 
to get froiu the towns and cities wlial they need and otiierwise strength- 
en their cause. The i-iVects on agricultural pursuits will be disaiiiuunt- 
ing, because the great majority of tliosi- who would (»r should lake up 
the work joined the insurgent forces when compelled to Icnve their 
homes, iuid the portion which canu' within the lines of icconcenlration 
are women, children, old and sickly |M'o]ile, most of wlmm seem to have 
little interest in the |)r(»!)lem of life. There is no one to t;vke these peo- 
|ile back to the fii'lds and utilize t heir leiimiiung strength. Their houses 
are destroye<l, the fields are overgrown with wei'ds, they have no seeds 
to plant, and, if they had, they couhl not live sixty or eighty days until 
the crop maturerl; which, when grown, wouhl more than likely be taken 
by one or the other of the contending j)ai'ties." 



AMERICAN INDIGNATION GROWING. 223 

Dying At His Door. 

"As I write," Mr. Hyatt closes this comiunnication, "a man is dying 
in the street in front of my door, the third in a comparatively small 
time." 

Mr. Hyatt's letter of December 21 deals largely with the sickness and 
the death rate on the island, which he chai*acterizes as appalling. "Sta- 
tistics," he says, "make a grievous showing, but come far short of the 
truth. The disease is generally brought on by insufficient food. It is 
sometimes called paludal fever, and at others la grippe, and it is epi- 
demic rather than contagious. From 30 to 40 per cent of the people 
were afflicted with it." 

He also reported smallpox and yellow fever as prevailing, and said 
that out of a total of sixteen thousand soldiers recently sent to Manza- 
nillo, nearlj' five thousand were in hospitals or quartered on the people. 
He says that Dr. Caminero, United States sanitary inspector, reported 
at that time that there were more than twelve thousand people sick in 
bed, not counting those in military hospitals. This is at least 35 jier 
cent of the present population. Mr. Hyatt adds that quinine, the only 
remedy of avail, is sold ten times higher than in the United States. He 
says that steamers coming into port give out soup once a day to the 
waiting throngs, and that fresh meat sells at from ,")0 cents to -fl a i)ouud. 

Condemned to a Living Death. 

Every ten days or so crowds of handcuffed men are driven through 
the streets of Havana, which they will never tread again, on their way 
to the transport ship which will convey them to the penal settlements 
on the African coast. Many of these men represent the elite of Cuban 
society. Seldom is a direct charge brought against them. Police spies 
denounce them as Cuban sympathizers. They are given no trial, that 
they may prove the charges false. On administrative order they are 
sentenced to exile for life, and frequently the source of their mis- 
fortune can be traced I'o private revenge or personal feeling. Since the 
beginning of the war at least ten thousand prominent citizens have been 
torn from their native island, families and friends, and sent to life exile 
in the filthy, overcrowded, deadly swamps of Fernando Po. AA^ith a 
little money and good health it is possible to survive in Ceuta, but none 
ever returns from Fernando Po. On the 23d of March a large party of 



221 A.MKIIHAN I \l )I(:\ATI< »N CWoWINC. 

citizens of the .M;ii;inz;is disliict passcHl tbrou<j:li Havana <in llicir waj 
tn the IrausiMjrl. It was a sad proccKsion. Hoik-Ioss, jaded, despair- 
ing' men, with anus tied behind tlieni and fe<'t shackled, forced to leave 
Cuba and face a shnv, horrible death. On the train from Matanzas two 
of these unfortunates were literally shot to pieces. The ■:;uards reiH>rted 
tliey tried to escape and were shot in the attempt. Their fello\v-])rison- 
ers told a dilTerent story. "The two men were deliberately taken out 
on the platform between the cai-s and finHl njion. And the soldiers 
w'onld f^ive no itasou." The action could likely be traced to pi-rsonaJ 
revenue. 



CHAPTER XXX. 

OUTKAGES ON AMERICAKS IN CUBA. 

How Spain Pays Her Debts — An Old Soldier's Experience — The Case of 
Pedro Casanova — Destruction of Property — Robbery and Murder — A 
Cruel Attack — The Insurgents to the Rescue — Hiding in a Cane 
Field — The Appeal to the Consul — Intervention Justiflabie. 

Many American citizens in Cuba have been confined in Spanish pris- 
ons, a number have been sent to the penal colonies, the property of some 
luis been confiscated, and others have been murdered in cold bl(,x)d. A 
celebrated case, which shows how slowly the wheels of justice some- 
times revolve, was that of Antonio Maximo, a naturalized American 
citizen. He was condemned to death, and his estates declared the prop- 
erty of the government, by order of a court-martial, in 1870. He was 
charged ^\'ith participating in the revolution then going on in Cuba and 
convicted, in spite of the fact tliat he was not residing on the island. 
The United States demanded restitution and indemnification, and in 
1873 the Spanish republic admitted that the claim was just. The decree 
was confirmed in 1S7() by the royal government, but the authorities in 
Cuba delayed its execution until the estates were in ruins. Spain finally 
offered the sum of 1,.500,000 pesos as indemnity, and this offer was ac- 
cepted in 18SC. The Cortes, however, made no appropriation for the 
payment, and in 1888 the Spanish minister of state attempted to affix 
to the agreement the new condition that certain claims of Spanish sub- 
jects should be adjudicated and settled- simultaneously. Secretary Bay- 
ard rejected the proposition, and our government continued to urge the 
Spanish authorities to fufill their contract. On June 12, 1895, Secre- 
tary Olney instnicted Hannis Taylor, United States minister at Madrid, 
to ask Spain to give assurances that she would settle the claim within 
two mouths. The Spanish government then offered to pay the principal 
of the claim, and the claimant agreed to forego the interest. On Sep- 
tember 14, the original claimant having died, the Spanish government 
paid 11,499,000, equal to 1,-500,000 pesos, in settlement of the long-stand- 
ing claim. 

15 335 



22G OUTRAGES ON AMERICANS IN CURA. 



An Old Soldier's Experience. 

^^■illiaI^ Ewiuji', of BulValt), New Vcnk, scivi-d iu tlio Scvcutt-euth 
I'liilt'd States iiifauti y all through the eivil war, ami is a lueniber of the 
(J. A. K. He Aveut to Cuba, aud invested .*;7,000, all the iiioiK'V he had, 
in a siiyar plantation, aud with his wife and daujihter and his brother- 
in-law, AVilliani Hamilton, he took nj) his abode on the island. 

Finally, owing to the unsettled eonditions resulting from the war, 
he sent his family back to the United States, and joined the insurgent 
army. Ilis brother-in-law also espoused the Cuban cause, and was killed 
iu battle. Discouraged by his reverses, he decided to return to his 
uative land, and made his escape from the island by boarding a block- 
ade runner, which landed him at Atlantic City, from where he walked 
to New York. (Jrand Army comrades gave him food and shelter, and 
assisted him to reach his family. This man has a personal interest in 
the success of the cau.se, for when that time comes he hoiK^s to regain 
jxtssession of his projicrty. 

The Case of Pedro Casanova. 

Pedro Casanova, a citizen (»f the United States, resided near the little 
railway sl;ition of San Miguel de Jaruca with his family, which consists 
of his wife and thret* children and his nephew, the latter born in tJie 
United Slates. He told the stoiy of his wrongs at the hands of the 
Spaniards to a representative of the New York Herald in tlic fcilnwing 
\\nrils: 

"I have snllci'cd gn-al out rages frum the Spanish soldiers. The sol- 
diers rerenlly ]>assed on the road, and my \\if(> called my atleiilion to 
the fact that they had broken into a vai aiii liouse where valuable prop- 
erty was stored, and were jiulling things in jjiece.s. Just then I saw two 
olllcersciuniug toward the house. I was very glad, and went out (omeet 
them, and invited I hem to (-nter the hou.se and refresh themselves. Tlie^' 
accepted, and saiil they liked colTee. While they were drinking, one or 
two soldiers came and sjxike to the captain, who asked me, 'Who are 
the men in the sugar house?' 'My em]doyes,' I replied, Mncludiiig one 
engineer. The others are engaged iu rejjairs.' 

'•'J he ca|itaiu said:'I hear rt'bels are hidden theic 1 imist lake the 
men before the major for e.xamiuation ; the major himself will he here 
to-morrow.' 



OUTRAGES ON AMERICANS IN CUBA. 227 

"After he left I foimd the door of the house on the hill broken open. 
A quantity of bottled beer had been taken, aJso my saddles and bridles, 
and many other things. Gloves and other articles of woman's apparel 
■were tossed in the yard. I went to the station. The drug store looked 
as if it had been visited by a mad bull. All the shelves and drawers 
were thrown out and smashed. An empty store opposite was in the 
same condition. The counter was thrown down and the door i>osts 
hacked by machetes. The large coffee mill was broken, and all was in 
disorder. An account of this work was what the soldiers had whis- 
pered to the captain. The officer had remarked to me with a sneer: 
'The insurgents are very kind to you, as no harm has been done here.' 

"I was surprised on the following Wednesday morning tO' hear shots 
as of several volleys of musketry. About three hundred soldiei-s — in- 
fantry- and cavaliy — were, in fact, outside, having surrounded my house. 
More soon appeared under command of Captain Cerezo Martinez. In 
most brutal and vulgar teiins he ordered all in the house to go outside. 
The soldiers iiished in and dragged me out bj* the coat collar. My wife, 
with her baby, was taken out, a rifle being pointed at her breast. Eleut- 
rie Zanabria, a negro servant, who was badly frightened, tried to hide. 
He was pulled to the front, and before my eyes a soldier struck him a 
heavj- blow with his machete, cutting him deep in the head and arm, 
leaving a pool of blood on the floor. The wound was serious. 

"An order was then given to take into custody all men on the estate. 
Near a tree beyond the hill, one hundred yards from the house, I stoppe<l, 
about foi-ty paces from the others, to talk to the captain, who had been 
at the house the week before. At that moment a young negro, Manuel 
Febels, made a dash to escape. Some cavaliymen rushed after him, 
firing. He fell, and they mutilated his body, taking out his eyes. The 
officer, enraged at the negro's flight, pulled out his sabre, and shouted 
to the others of the party: 'Get down on your knees!' They obeyed and 
he had them bound and kept in that position a quarter of an hour. 

"While I was talking to the captain mj wife and five-year-old child 
were begging for mercy for me. The cavalrymen helped themselves to 
corn for their horses, and finally startenl. The officers told me that my 
nephew's life and ray own were only spared because we were Ameri- 
cans, and they did not want to get into trouble with the United States. 
They then ordered me to leave San Miguel without waiting a moment. 

"Their explanation of the raid was that the rebels had fired upon 
the troops, and that they saw one man run, as he fired, into my house, 



228 OUTKACES ON AMERICANS IN CL'IJA. 

aud that, uikIit tbc iiiajoi's instnulidiis, tlio whole family should have 
bwu kilk'd. My wife and childivu were iu ajjoiiy while I wa.s away. 
My einployes were all taken away by the troops. 

"An (ilHcer of hij^h rank iu the Spanish army i)assed mj" place after 
I left, came to me here, and said: 'I know what has hajijK'ued. The 
man iu command is unfit to be an ollicer of Spain.' I heard that my men 
had been taken to the Spanisii camii and shot while eatinjj; breakfa.st." 

Destruction of Property. 

'I'hc brothers Farrar, iu presentiuj; their claim I'oi indemnity, made 
the fnliowin^i statement: 

"( tn Saturday, Manli I'l, the dwclliuii; house of the coffee jdanta- 
tiou Kstrella was the object of a wanton attack by the column of Gen. 
liernat, operating in that re;;i(»n. The said bnildiuy received canncm 
shots of ^^rape aud caunister, breaking the door, oiu' window, .several 
piazza columns, aud greatly endan^icrinji the lives of the familii's of my 
brothers, I)(m Tasio ami Don Luis Farrar, both American citizens. 
There were two small children in tiie hou.se. From my information it 
apjiears that t!ie troops un-utioued had sustaiue<l lire with a rebel band 
in Paz plantation, a (|iiarlerdeaj;ue from Estrella, The rebels havin;,^ 
fled to Tedroso ami Huena Kspenuiza plautatious, the government 
trooj^s a«Ivanced fowaril Fslrella iu (jiiite an ojJjKtsite directioTi from 
that taken by the r«'bel.s. On arriving at the borders of Kstrella phniia- 
tion the Spanish cojumu began linug cannon at the dwelling house, and 
it was immediately invaded by the soldiers, who ransacked it, carryiug 
off wardntbes, all jewein- and men's clothing which they coutaineil, as 
well as I he sum of about ."?(»() in money. They also to<d< away everything 
found iu workmen's dwellings, arresting at the sanu' tinu* twelve of iIh' 
occiijiants, whom they coiulucted to Abpiizar as insurgents. It should 
bi- observed that the cannon were tired scdely at the dwelling house of 
the owm-rs, allhimgh there were twenty other buildings on the planta- 
tion, aud the jdace was entirely clear of insurgents. 

"In considenitiou of all the above, aud j»articularly on acroinit of 
the danger 1<» which his r(datives were ex|M»sed, aud also for I lie un- 
justiliable looting on the |»art of the regular troojis iu the .service of a 
constituted government, the undersigned does most solemnly jirotest, 
anil jusks an immediate indemnity for the damages suffered, which he 
values at .?.".(MI(I, as all work has been stopjiiil ou the plantation aud 
everything abandoned." 



OUTRAGES OX AMEKICAXS I\ CUBA. 229 

A Cruel Attack. 

Tbe case of Dr. Dellgado is a pai-ticularlv pathetic one. His home 
was in New York, -where he was a practiciug physician, but he went 
to Cuba to talce possession of some property which he had inlierited. 
His father tokl the stoi-y of their sufferings to a corresiwindent, and his 
account was supplemented by additional pai-ticulars from the doctor 
himself. The elder gentleman sjiid: 

"Our plantation is called Dolores, the old name being Morales. It 
was about half past one on the 4th day of March when a regiment of 
rebels, about four hundred or five hundred men, invaded the place. They 
told us they were Maceo's men, and soon after them came Maceo, with 
twenty-four women, sixteen whites and eight mulattoes. I undei'stood 
that these women were the wi^es of the officers. 

"Maceo shook hands politely and asked if I would allow them to take 
breakfast with us. Of course there was nothing to do but say yes, and 
the men spread themselves over about seventy acres of the jilantAtion, 
the officers and ladies coming into the house. They had provisions with 
them, but desired to cook and serve them, which they did. They sat 
down at the table and were soon joking and laughing. Suddenly' we 
heard rifle shots. Hernandez yelled to his wife to hand him his ma- 
chete. Then all went out and found that the fii'ing had come from what 
seeme<l to be an advance guard of the Spanish troops. There was some 
skirmishing at a. distance, and the insurgents rode away. They did not 
wish to fight on the plantation, as they were on another mission. 

"The Spaniards had fired the cane, thinking thei-e were other insur- 
gents hiding there. Spanish bullets rattled on the tiled roof of the 
house, and fanu hands who were plowing back of the house got fright- 
ened and wished to come in. 

"After a while I 0])ened the window to see how matters stood and 
saw two cavalrymen and a captain, with two soldiers. My son and the 
farm hands went out toward the burning cane in an attempt to save 
some oxen that were near the cane. When the captain saw them he 
shouted: ^'ho are those people?' I told him they were our workmen, 
and he then gave orders to clear the house. They rushed their horses 
right through the house, the captain leading them. I took out my 
American pajiers and showed them to him to prove that I was a {peace- 
ful citizen. 'They are the worst documents you could have,' said the 
captain. They answered my son in the same way, and the captain re- 



230 OUTRAGES OX AMERICANS IX CURA. 

lK»ated the onliT to clear the house. Theu they oiilertHl us to march on 
as pii.sonei-s and told the women to stay bark. My son a.skeil them to 
let nie stay back with the wimien, and they allowed me to do so. Of 
coui-se the women were panic-stricken and screaminj^ when they saw 
their husbands beinjj: taken away. 

"We heard shots and then a second volley. One of the women cried 
out: 'They have killed my husband!' Her words were true. After 
about three hours I ventured out, and I saw comiuij towards the house 
the old farm hand, a man of about seventy. He .seemed to be holding a 
red handkerchief over his arm, b\it when I jjot nearer I .saw that it was 
covered with blood. He crie<l out when he saw me: 'They have killed 
themi" 'My soul My soul' I cried. 'He was tlic lirst one tliey killed,' he 
said. 

"1 look the man in the house and trii'd to bind n\> his arm, which had 
been shattered by a bullet. I endeavored to pacify the women, and told 
tliem they .should <io to the nc'arest neighbors for liclp. The t^o white 
farm haJids, who had been hiding in the cane, tlini came over toward 
the house, while I was trying to cjuiet the women. They were afraid to 
move, panic-stricken, and wouhl not go for help. 

"Suddeidy a young man dashed up In the house at full gallop, lie 
drew his revcdver and told the faini hands to get cots and pillows and 
medicine to biing to tlie missing men in case any of them should be still 
alive. He saicl he would shoot them if they disobeyed, and they did as 
he directed. They made up a litter, and we walked on till we found the 
place where the men lay in a ]»o(d of blooil. 

"I looked into my .son's face and crie<l out: 'My son, my .son!' He 
ojK'Ued his eyes and whispered: 'I'.itliei-, they have killinl us.'" 

The old gentleman bi-rdic down in a ]>assion of weeping a,t these 
recollections of the ;iwful scene, and tlie son gave his account of the hor- 
rilile butchery: 

"Thi-y marched us along," said tiie Dodoi-, "anil I s]iukr to the gen- 
eral: 'Oeneral, I am an .American citizen, and here are my ]>a]>ers from 
Mr. Williams.' 'They are th(> worst things you could have,' he siiid. '1 
wish the Consul were here himself, s<i that 1 coidd treat him thus,' and 
lie struck me three times in the face. Then he sounded the bugle calling 
the volunteers, and ordered us taken to the rear guard. Of course, we 
knew that this meant death. They tied us in a line with our hands i)in- 
ioned. I knew the sergeant and said to him: 'Is it possible that you 
are going to kill me?' 'Ilou.im I heljut ?' he answered. Then the order 



OUTKAGEH OS AMERICANS IN ClUA. 231 

was given aud the soldiers ruslied upon us with machetes. Their linives 
cut our ropes as we tried to dodge the blows, aud the soldiere fired two 
vollejs at us. The first shot grazed uiy head, and I di'opped to the ground 
as though dead. The old farm hand also threw himself to the earth. 
This act saved our lives. 

"Tlie other fcmr men Avho tried to fight were killed. At the second 
discharge a bullet pierced my side. When we all lay as though dead 
they came up and turned us over and searched our pockets — mine first, 
of coui*se, as I was better dressed than the other men. One of the soldiers 
noticed that my breast moved and shouted out : 'This fellow is not dead 
yet. Give him another blow,' and he raised his machete and gave me a 
slash across the face and throat. Then I became unconscious." 

Delgado's father took up the story as his son left off: "The brave 
young man who brought us to the place where my son was, now jumped 
from his horse and gave orders to the juen to lift my son on the litter, as 
we found he was the only man still living. We put a pillow under his 
head, and the two faxm hands lifted the litter and carried it into the 
cane field. Meanwhile the women relatives of the dead men came up 
and began to wail and cry. The young man, whom we afterwards found 
was an insui'gent leader, told them they should be quiet, as their lamen- 
tations would bring the Spanish troops upon the scene again. 

"Then the litter was canied into the cane field. This young man said: 
'You must immediately -^Tite to the American consul. I will furnish 
you with a messenger, and you may rest safely in this cane field with 
your son. I will put a guard of 500 men around it so that they cannot 
burn it, as they do when they know people are hiding in the cane.' 

"For five days I was in the cane field with my son. It rained upon 
us, and then I put the pillows over my son's chest, in order to protect 
him. I suffered greatly from rheumatism. Only the young man ap- 
peared and said that General Maceo had sent a guard to escort me back 
to my home. With my boy we were taken thei^e and guard kept axound 
our house. The messenger came back from the Consul, and I came on to 
Havana to see General Wejler, who had my son brought here to the 
city." 

Stories of outrages on Americans that are unquestionably true might 
be furnished in numbers sufficient to more than fill this entire volume, 
but enough have been given to convince the most skeptical that the de- 
mand for intervention was justified on our own account, as well as for 
the sake of the people of Cuba. 




^.., 



MoKINLEY SUCCEEDS CLEVELAND. 233 

Thus the negotiations dragged on. We were put to trouble and ex- 
pense to prevent filibustering, and filibustering continued in spite of 
us. More than once heretofore has there been danger of inteniational 
conflict,' as for instance when American sailors on the Virginius were 
executed in Cuba in 1873. Propositions have been made to buy the 
island, and plans have been formed to annex it. All the while there 
have been great Aniericau iuterests in Cuba. Our citizens have owneil 
much property and made investments there, and done much to develop 
its fertility. They have paid tribute, unlawful a.s well as lawful, both 
to insurgents and to Spanish officials. They have lost propertj-, for 
which no indemnity has been paid. All the while we have had a trade 
with the island, important during periods of quiet, irritating dui-ing 
periods of unrest. 

Trouble Not a New One. 

The Cuban trouble is, therefore, not a new trouble, even in an acute 
form. It had been moving fonward toward a crisis for a long time. 
Still, while our government suffered these diplomatic vexations, and 
our citizens these losses, and our merchants these annoyances, the mass 
of the American people gave little serious thought to it. The news- 
papers kept us reminded of an opera bouffe war that was going on, and 
now and then there came information of delicate and troublesome dip- 
lomatic duties for our Minister to Spain. If Cuba were within a hun- 
dred miles of the coast of one of our populous States, and near one of 
our gTeat ports, periods of acute interest in its condition would doubt- 
less have come earlier and oftener, and we should long ago have had 
to deal with a crisis by warlike measures. Or if the insurgents had 
commanded respect instead of mere pity, we should have paid heed to 
their struggle sooner; for it is almost an American maxim that a people 
cannot govern itself till it can win its own independence. 

When it began to be known that Weyler's method of extermination 
was producing want in the island, and when appeals were made to 
American charity, we became more interested. President Cleveland 
found increasing difficulty with the problem. Our Department of State 
was again obliged to give it increasingly serious attention, and a reso- 
lute determination was reached by the administration that this scaudal 
to civilization should cease — we yet supposed peacefully — and Spain 
was informed of our resolution. When Mr. McKinley came to the Pres- 
idency, the people, conscious of a Cuban problem, were yet not greatly 
aroused about it. Indeed, a prediction of war made at the time of the 



234 M.KINLEY SICCKKDS CLKVKLAXI). 

iuauyuratiiin wouUl havo .sceuu-d wild aud fnulish. Must poi-sous still 
j;ave little tlioii^dit to Cuba, and tliere seeiiu'd a likflihtiml that they 
would jro ou iuiletiuitely without f?iviu<j serious thouj^ht to it; f(.)r ueither 
the iusurjieiits, uor the Cuban juuta, nor the Cuban ])arty in the United 
States, if there was such a party, comniauded respect. 

President McKinley's Message. 

President McKinley .sent a messajre to CongTe.ss a few weeks after 
his iuaufjuration, in whieh be reconnnended the appropriation of ^7>0,- 
UOO for the relief of American citizens in Cuba. It read as follows: 

"Offieial information from our Consuls in Cuba establishes the fact 
that a large number of American citizens in the island are in a state 
of destitution, sulTerinfj for want of food and medicines. This applies 
particularly to the rural districts of the central and easteni parts. The 
a};ricultural classes have been f((rced from their farms into the nearest 
towns where they ;u"e without work or money. The local authorities of 
the several towns, however kindly disposed, are unable to relieve the 
needs of their own people, and are altojiether iK>werless to helj) our 
citizens. The latest report of Consul-tJeneral Lee estimates that <IO0 
to SOO are without means of support. I have assured him that provision 
would be made at once to relieve them. To that end I recommend that 
Con<;ress make an ajipropriation of not less than $.")0,000, to be imme- 
diately available for use under the direction of the Secretary of State. 

"It is desirable that a part of the sum which maj' be appropriated 
by Con;;ress should, in the di.scretion of the Secretaiy of State, also be 
used for the transjMirtation of American citizens who, desiiin}; to re- 
turn to the United States, are without means (o do so." 

The joint resolution ofTered by Senator Ciallinj;(>r, which embodied 
the reconum-ndations of I'resident McKinley, passed both Houses with- 
out a dissent in <; vote. 

.Vn intlnenlial journal pi-inti-d t he fullnwinfi: cdiiurial con<(TMin,u this 
mi-asure: 

"It is an ess«'ntiai!y new ile|iarliirc in international affaii-s, and it 
is in order for the sticklers for jtrecedent to enter fussy protestation, as 
they did in connection with the Venezuelan question, against the Mon- 
roe doctrine, declaring it was not to be found in the code of interna- 
tional law. It is certainly very nnusnal, if not unprecedented, for the 
government to make a ndief appropriation for its own peoj)le in sftine 
foreign land. The truth is, this (^nban situation is wholly exceptional. 



McKINLEY SUCCEEDS CLEVELAND. 233 

Here is a little island in a state of civil war. It is largely a sectional 
war, one part of the island being in possession of one of the belligerents, 
and the other section in possession of the other belligerent. 

'•Several hundreds of our American citizens are in that section of the 
island occupied by Spanish armies, and are suffering, in common with 
the Cubans themselves, from a deliberate policy of starvation. Weyler 
is trying to conquer by famine. That is his fixed purpose, and, from 
the nature of the case, no disci-imination is made between Spanish sub- 
jects in rebellion and American citizens sojourning in the island. If the 
policy of starvation cannot be maintained without this indiscrimination 
then so much the worse for Weyler and his policy. Congress has only 
to make the appropriation asked for, and the relief will go forward, 
without regard to any collateral consequences." 

De Lome's Insulting Letter. 

One of the most sensational incidents in connection with Spanish 
affairs prior to the destruction of the Maine was the publication of a 
letter, which fell into the hands of the Cuban Junta, written by Seuor 
Dupuy De Lome, the representative of the Spanish government in 
Washing-ton, to the editor of a ncAvspaper at Madrid. A translation of 
the letter is given: 

My Distinguished and Dear Friend: 

You need not apologize for not having written to me. I ought to have 
written to you, hut have not done so on account of being weighed down with 
work. 

The situation here continues unchanged. Everything depends on the 
political and military success in Cuba. The prologue of this second method of 
warfare will end the day that the Colonial Cabinet will be appointed, and it 
relieves us in the eyes of this country of a part of the responsibility of what 
may happen there, and they must cast the responsibility upon the Cubans, 
whom they believe to be so immaculate. 

Until then we will not be able to see clearly, and I consider it to be a loss 
of time and an advance by the wrong road, the sending of emissaries to the 
rebel field, the negotiating with the autonomists, not yet declared to be le- 
gally constituted, and the discovery of the intentions and purposes of this 
government. The exiles will return one by one, and when they return will 
come walking into the shcepfold. and the chiefs will gradually return. 

Neither of these had the courage to leave en masse, and they will not have 
the courage to thus return. The President's message has undeceived the in- 



23G MiKIXLEY SUCCEEDS CLEVELAND. 

sui'fji'Uts, who fxpci-ti'd sonietliinf; vise, and has i>aralvzi'(l tlic ai-tioii of Coii- 
tjiisjf, but I lonsid'.T it bad. 

Disidis thi' natural and int-vitabk' toarscni'ss with whiih hv ii'pt'ats all 
that the jtri'ss and public opinion of Spain lias said of NN'evk'r, it shows once 
more what McKinlcy is — weak and catering; to the rabble, and, bt'sides, a low 
politician, who desires to leave a door open to nie and to stand well with the 
jingoes of his party. Nevertheless, as a matter of fact, it will only depend on 
ourselves whether he will prove bad and adverse to us. 

I agree entirely with you that without military success nolhiu<: will be ac- 
complished there, and without military antl political success there is here al- 
ways danger that the insuigents will be encouraged, if not by the government, 
at least by part of the jiublic opinion. I do not believe you pay enough at- 
tention to the role of England. Nearly all that newspaper canaille, which 
swarm in your hotel, are English, and while they are c(urespondents of Amer- 
ican jouinals. they are also correspondents of the best newspapers and re- 
views of London. 

Thus it has been since the beginning. To my mind, the only object of Eng- 
land is that the Americans should o( in])y themselv»'s with us and leave her 
in peace, and if there is a war, so much the better. That would further remove 
what Is threatening her, although that will never happen. It woulil be most 
important that you should agitate the (pieslion of commercial relatituis, even 
I hough it would be only for elTect, and that you should send here a nuin of im- 
portance, in order that I might use him to make a jiropaganda anuuig the sen- 
ators and others, in op|iosition to the .Junta and to win over exiles. 

There goes Amblarad. I believe he comes too deeply taken ujt with polit- 
ical matters, and there must be sonu-thing great or we shall lose. .\d(la re- 
turns your salutation, and we wish you iu the new year (o be a mtsscuger of 
peace and fake this new yeai's ju-esent to jtooi' S]iain. 

Always your allciiti\c frii'iid au<l servant, who kisses youi- hand, 

KNUKilK DTITY HE LOME. 

As soon as tliis letter was nia<le pnlilic, Dc Lome cahlcil his res- 
i^rnation to the Spanish <r()Verninent, and withdrew his jLTssjioi-ts from 
the State Depaiiinent, in Wasliin^^ton, thus savinjj himself tiio niofti- 
fication of a ilisniissal. Tli<' Sjiaiiisli <iovernnieut at .Madrid sent thi' 
fidlowing comniunicalion to Ministt'i" AN'oodford re^janlinp the affair: 

The Spanish (iovernment, on learning of flu- incident in which .Minisler 
Dupuy I)e Lome was concerned, and being advised of his objectionable com- 
munication, with entire sincerity laments the incident, states that Minister De 
Lome had j>resented his i-( signal ion. .ind it had been accejited before the pres- 
entation of the matter by Minister Woodford. That the Spanish Ministry, In 
accepting the resignation of a functionary whoso services they have been util- 



McKIM.EY SUCCEEDS CLEVELAND. 237 

iziufi aud valuing up to that time, leaves it perfci'tlv well established that they 
do not share, and rather, on the contrary, disauthorize the criticisms tending 
to offend or censure the chief of a friendly State, although such criticisms had 
been ^yritten within the field of friendship and had reached publicity by artful 
and criminal means. 

That this meaning had taken shape in a resolution by the Council of Min- 
isters before General Woodford presented the matter, and at a time when the 
Spanish Government had only vague telegrai)hic reports concerning the senti- 
ments alluded to. That the Spanisli nation, with e(]ual and greater reason, af- 
firms its view and decision after reading the words contained in the letter re- 
flecting upon the I'resident of the United States. 

As to the paragrajjh concerning the desii'ability of negotiations of com- 
mercial relations, if even for effect and importance of using a representative 
for the purpose stated in Senor Dupuy De Lome's letter, the government ex- 
presses concern that in the light of its conduct, long after the writing of the 
letter, and in view of the unanswerable testimony of simultaneous and subse- 
quent facts, any doubt should exist that the Spanish Government has given 
proof of its real desire and of its innermost convictions with respect to the new 
commercial system and the projected treaty of commerce. 

That the Spanish Government does not now consider it necessary to lay 
stress upon, or to demonstrate anew the truth and sincerity of its purpose and 
the unstained good faith of its intentions. That publicly and solenmly, the 
Government of Sjiain contracted before the mother country and its colonies 
a rcsj)onsibiIity for the political and tariff charges which it has inaugurated 
in lidth Antilles, the natural ends of which, in domestic and international 
spheres, it i)ursnes with hrmiicss, which will ever iusjiire its conduct. 



riTAT'TEK XXX TT. 
THE CASK OF i:\ ANCKI.IXA CISNKHOS. 

A Mailvr tu llic Causi- — Filial Dcvnlinn — S]iaiiisli Cliivalrv — In a >>i>anish 
I'risou — Au AuR'iicau HrstuiT — Yaukic I'liick Ajiaiust Hriitc Forct' — 
The EstaiR- — Arrival in New ^Ork — Kutiiusiastif Ki-ii-ptiou — A lloiiic 
in the Laud of Liberty. 

Spanish ollicials in Cuba liave always deniiMl tlip cliarpo that they 
madi* war ou women, ami have insisted that the tales of perseiution 
of the weaker sex that have reached this oountrj' were inventions of 
the iusurj^ents, published to jjain sympathy for their cause. In direct 
contradiction to this claim is the storj- of Evan<xelina Oisneros, the 
niece of the president of the Cuban republic. Her father, a Cuban 
patriot of prominence, was banished to the Isle of Tines, and she 
sliowed lier lilial devotion by leavinjjj a luxurious home to share his 
exih'. Wiiile there, her beauty attracted the attention of ii Sitanisli 
(ieneral, who tried by every nii-ans in his power to <::ain her favor. It 
was natural that slie siiould despise anyone who wore the Iiate<l uni- 
form of SjKiin, and, because slie rejected liis advances, she was cliar^-^c*! 
with «-onspirin;j a;,Min.st the <,roveriiment, and sent to a jail in Havana, 

llcr uidiapjiy fate attracte<l the attention of Mr. W. K. Ileai-st, the 
]>riiiprietoi' of the New York Journal, and he, actuateil no doubt by 
]>liilanlliidpic motives, as well as tlie desire to advance the interests 
of his paper, determined to make an efforf for her release. 

How this was accomplished is best tohl by Mr. Karl Decker, who 
was .Mr. Hearst's representative in carryiii;; out the phit. 

"I have brcdveii tiie bars of ]trison and have set free tlic hcaiilifiil 
captive of Monster Weyler, restorinj; her to her friends and relatives, 
and doinji by stren};1ii, skill and strate<;y what coidd not be accom- 
plislicd by iM'tition and ur^^ent re<piest of the Pope. Weyler conld 
blind the (^necn to the real character of Kvauj^elina, Imt he could not 
bnihl a jail that woiilil Imld ai^ainst cntrrprise wlirii prdjH'rly set to 
work. 

"To-ni},dit all Havana rin<rs with the story. It is the on(> topic of 
conversation. Everyt!iin<j else jwiles into insii^^nilicance. No one re- 



THE CASE OF EVA2sGELINA (JLS:N'ER0S. 239 

members tluit tliere has been a clianjie iu tlie Ministry. M'iiat matters 
it if \Yeyler is to go? Evangelina Cisneros has escaped from the jail, 
thought by everj'one to be impregnable. A plot has been hatched right 
in the heart of Uavana — a desperate plot — as shown by the revolver 
found on the roof of the house through which tlu> escape was etfeeted, 
and as the result of this plot, put. into effect under the very nose of 
Spanish guards, Evangelina is free. How was it done? IIow could it 
have been done? 

Details of the Escape. 

"These are the questions asked to-night by the frequenters of the 
cafes throughout the city, where the people of Havana congregate. 
It is conceded by all, by the officials of the palace included, to be the 
most daring coup in the history of the war, and the audacity of the 
deed is paralyzing. No one knows where Evangelina is now, nor can 
know. 

"To tell the story of the escape briefly, I came here three weeks 
ago, having been told to go to Cuba and rescue from her prison Miss 
Cisneros, a tenderly-reared girl, descended from one of the best fami- 
lies in the island, and herself a martyr to the unsatisfied desires of a 
beast in Spanish uniform. I arrived at Cienfuegos late in September, 
telegraphed to a known and tried man in Santiago de Cuba to meet 
me in Havana, and then went to Santa Clara, where I picked up a 
second man, known to be as giitty as Sahara, and then proceeded to 
Havana. 

"Here I remained in almost absolute concealment, so as to avoid 
the spies that dog one's steps wherever one may go, and make impossi- 
ble any clever work of this kind. Both the men who accompanied me, 
Joseph Hernandou and Harrison Mallory, pursued the same course, 
and remained quiet until all plans had been completed. 

"The fact that Miss Cisneros was incommunicado made the attempt 
seem at first beyond the possibility of success, but we finally, through 
Hernaudon, who was bom on. the island, and speaks Spanish like a 
native, succeeded in sending a note to her through an old negi'ess, who 
called upon one of her friends in the prison. A keeper got this note 
through two hands to Miss Cisneros, and three keepers later got to 
her a package of drugged sweets. Having established communica- 
tion with her, we began work without losing a day." 




CLARA BARTON-' THE ANGEL OF THE SICK ROOM' 



THE CASE OF EVAXGELINA CISNEROS. 241 

"Thei'e was no reason why tlio chief of police should scan too closely 
the young- man with the big cigax\ Juan Sola's passport had been 
duly issued by the Spanish government, and as far as the papers 
showed, there was no reason to suspect him. 

"Of course Juan Sola was the girl the correspondent had rescued 
from prison, and the fame of whose escape was on every tongue in 
Ifavana, the girl for whose capture the police had for three days been 
brealcing into houses and guai-ding the roads, and yet she passed under 
their noses with no disguise but a boy's suit of clothes. 

"Miss Cisneros did not court, any more danger than was necessary, 
and at once went to her cabin. The next day, however, when Morro 
Castle was left far behind, she appeared on deck, transformed into 
Senorita Juana Sola, alias Evangelina Cisneros. 

"When the ship sighted Cape Hatteras light the young woman 
asked what light it was, and when told that it was an American bea- 
con, she knelt down in the saloon and prayed. After that she wept for 
joy. She must have been all strung up with excitement over her expe- 
riences, and when she saw the light she could contain herself no 
longer, but simply overflowed. 

"Nothing could be seen of the Cuban girl as the Seneca slowed 
opposite quarantine to permit the boarding of the health officer. The 
other passengers, after the habit of ocean travelers, gi'ouped amid- 
ships to scan the vessel of the tyrant, who had it in his power to lock 
them all up in quarantine. The girl was hidden away in her state- 
room, wondering what I'eception awaited her in the big city whose 
sky-line broke the horizon ahead. 

"The people on board were kind to her from the moment she re- 
vealed her identity, but at this moment when she had reached the 
haven of refuge, to gain which she and her gallant rescuers had 
risked death itself, she tied from the new-found fi-iends and would not 
even look out of the door of her stateroom." 

Miss Cisneros was given a great reception in Madison Square gar- 
den, during her stay in New York, where many noted men and women 
congratulated her on her happy escape, and welcomed her to "the laud 
of the free, and the home of the brave." Since then she has become 
the protege of Mrs. John A. Logan, widow of the famous General, and 
is now a member of her family. 

It is suspected that General Weyler connived at the escape of Miss 
Cisneros, as it is not probable that it could have been accomplished 
16 



tiVi TUK fASK OF EVANGELINA CI8NER0S. 

Aviiliout tlie knowk'djiio of the juisoii oftitials, and as they were not 
calleil to account for their neylij;»'uce, it would seem that they were 
obcyinj; orders. Her case had attracted the attention of men and 
women of i)r()mineuce, not only in our own country, but in l]ii<;land, 
Trance and (Jermany as well, and was likely to become an iniciiia- 
tional afl'air, and Weyler wisely decided to escajte these jujssihlc rdiii- 
liiications. However, there is no direi t ju-oof on this ])iiini, and both 
the njan who planned, and the one who executed deserved all the 
honors they received. 



CHArTER XXXIII. 

WOKK OF MLSS CLARA BARTOX AXD THE RED CROSS 

The Geueva Coufereuce — Miss Barton's Work in the War of the Rebellion- 
Organization of the American Red Ci'oss— The 'Work in Cuba— Appeal 
to the Public — A Floating Hospital — Correspondence with Admiral 
Sampson— The Spanish Prisoners in Key West, and What the Red 
Cross Did for Them. 

Many attempts have been made to bring abont an international 
agreement for mitigating the horrors and mortality of battle. The first 
successful movement of this kind was .started at the same time that the 
civil war was raging in the United States. A conference of jurists and 
others interested in humanitarian work was held in Geneva, Switzer- 
land, in 18(i3. They drew up an international compact, which was ap- 
proved by the Swiss government, and the support and sanction of the 
French empire were won. It was several years, however, before the 
articles of agreement were signed by all the civilized nations of the 
world, and, strange to relate, the United States was the last of the great 
powers to officially recognize the rights to special i)r()tection secured 
to the bearers of the Red Cross symbol. 

In the autumn of 1881 a final effort was made to gain the agreement 
of the United States to the stipulations of the convention of (ieneva, and 
assurances were given by President Arthur of his willingness to accede. 
The President and the Senate subsequently formally recognized the 
association, and the treaty was signed March IG, 1882. Pending this 
action by the government, a national society was formed and incor- 
porated under the laws of the District of Columbia, bearing the name 
of the American Association of the Red Cross. 

By this international treaty the Red Cross society is given peculiar 
privileges in times of war, and its agents and officers are permitted to 
carry on their work without hindrance from either of the belligerents, 
but they are prohibited from having anything, however remote, to do 
with military or naval operations. They deal exclusively with the 
means provided to aid the wounded, relieve the suffering, and care for 
the sick, in all of which the Red Ci-oss agents know neither friend nor 

243 



2U MISS ULAUA IIAKTOX AND THE HEU CROSS. 

foe. lu case of a battle the ambulauees, surgeous aud nurses of the 
society <^o upou the tield at soou as it is possible for them to do so aud 
carry out the work of mercy that has beeu undertaken. 

The American society has been geuert)us in extending its aid to other 
countries in times of war, and during the Franco-Prussian hostilities in 
1S70-71 it sent to Paris from its own funds .<;120,00(», while the French 
branch expended §2,500,000. Even the Spanish branch contributed to 
the humanitarian work of that war in the sum of §1,000. In the Turkct- 
Russian, the Tunisian, the Toncpiin, the Madagascar, the Ciran-o-Turkish 
aud several other wars the Kt-d Cross lias larricd on its work of mci-cy. 

Miss Clara Barton. 

When the war of the KebelHon begiui Miss Clara r?ai-t(»n was a clerk 
in the Patent Office in Washington. Siie resigned her position to devote 
herself to the care of wounded s(ddiers on the field of battle. In 1804 
she was appointed bj' General Butler "lady in charge" of the hospitals 
at the front of the Army of the James. In 18(!5 she was .sent to Auder- 
souville, (ieorgia, to identify and mark the graves of Fnion soldiers 
buried there, and in the same year was placed by President Lincoln in 
charge of the searcii for the missing men of the ruion aiuiy, aixl wliile 
engaged in this work she traced out the fate of :)0,0()0 men. 

in IM.'} she inaugurated a uiovemeut to secure recognition of the 
Keil Cross society by the I'uiti'd States government, and finally, during 
the administration of President Arthur, she saw her labors rewarile(l. 
SJie naturally bet anu' President of the American brandi of the society, 
which was founded in ISS2, aud she still holds that lioiioicd office. 

Work in Cuba. 

Afti r Weylei's infamous oidei- of I'ecouceiilral ioii A\cnl into eifect 
thr* Ked ( "ross society was not long in realizing that it iiad work to do 
aiu<mg tlie sudering people of Cuba. An a])peal was made to the public, 
and an expedition was dispat(he<l to the island, with ^liss Barton at its 
head. In speaking of her W(uk during that reign of terror. Senator 
Proctoi- saiil in the c(Mirse of his aildress to the Seiuite: 

"Miss I'arton needs no emlorseiiient from nu'. I have known ami 
esteemed her for nuuiy years, but liad not half a|ti»reciate<l her ca])ability 
and her devotion to her work. I especially lo(dced into her business 
methods, fearing here would be the greatest danger of mistake, that 



MISS CLARA BAKTON AND THE RED CROSS. 2i5 

there might be want of s^'steiu, and waste and extravagance, but I found 
that she could teach me on all those points. I visited the warehouse 
where the supplies are received and distributed, saw the methods of 
checking, visited the hospitals established or organized and supplied by 
her, saw the food distributed in several cities and towns, and everything 
seems to me to be conducted in the best possible manner." 

When diplomatic relations were bi'oken off between our country and 
Spain, and the American consuls in Cuba were recalled, it wa.s deemed 
advisable that the representatives of the Ked Cross then in Cuba should 
come with them. Miss Barton and her assistants returned to New York 
and immediately commenc(Ml the work of jireparation to follow our 
army into Cuba. The following appeal was issued: 

The Americau Xatioual Red Cross Relief Corps, actius' under the auspices 
of Americau National Red Cross, has for its objects the collection of funds for 
providiug- medical aud surgical attendance, nursing, medical supplies, food, 
clotliing, and such necessary assistance as may be required by the American 
National Red Cross, upon call of the United States government, in order to 
uuify all endeavors to that end during the present war. 

lender the provisions of the (Jeueva conference, from which every Na- 
tional Red Cross society derives its authority, the American National Red 
Cross is directed to provide such relief as may be required by all, without rec- 
ognition of friend or foe, who may suller from the calamities incidental to war, 
pestilence or famine. 

The Red Cross here, and throughout the civilized world, by a wide and 
varied experience in recent wars, recognizing by international treaty the 
sacred obligations of helpfulness for the suffering, wherever found, has so per- 
fected its organization that it becomes the recognized aud legitimate channel 
for contributifuis from all classes of individuals, and every variety of auxiliary 
association. 

For the purjiose of properly systemizing the benevolent impulses of the 
general public, aud of giving proper direction of efficient Ked Cross work, the 
committee solicits the co-operation of individuals aud auxiliary associations 
throughout the country, confident that through such means the various funds 
aud articles collected can most safely and most directly reach theii' ultimate 
destination. 

The steamer State of Texas was chartered aud loaded with food, 
medicines and hospital supplies, and headquarters were established 
at Key West. 

When Miss Barton joined the State of Texas at Key West on the 



■M(\ .MISS CLAKA UAKToN AND TlIE KED CROSS. 

21ttli of .\iiiil, tbero sceincd to bo no iniiucdiatL' prospect of au invasion 
of Cnba by the T'niteil States army, and, consequently, no prospect of 
an opix)rtunity to relieve the distress of the stan-ing Cuban people. 
Knowing that such distress must necessarily have been greatly intensi- 
tied by the blockade, and anxious to do something to mitigate it — or, at 
least, to show the readiness of the Ked Cross to undertake its mitigation 
— Miss Rart(»n wrote aTid sent to .\diiiiral Samjison, ( Viiiiniandci- of tiic 
Naval Forces on the North Atlantic Station, the following lettci-: 

S. S. state of Texas, .May L', ISflS. 
.Vdiiiiial W. T. Sanipsoii, U. S. X.. ('onniiaiuHiif; I-'Icct bcfdie Havana; 

.Vdiiiiral — lint for the introduction kindly iii-olfcrcd by our imiliial a<'- 
(inaiutance ('ajitain Harrington, I should scaicdy presume to address you. 
lie will liave made known to you the sidiject which I desire to bring to your 
gracious cousiderat ion. 

I'apers foi-warded by direction of our goveinnn iit will liave sliown tlie 
chai'^ii' intrusted to uu'; viz., to get food to tlu- starving peojile of Cuba. I have 
witli me a cargo of ].4()0 tons, under tJie lla^' of llie lied Cross, the one inter- 
national (Muhleni of ni'iilraliiy and liiinianity known to civilizalion. S]iuin 
knows and ref,'ar(ls it. 

Fourteen uuintlis a^o the (-ntire S])anisli governnu'id at Madrid cabled me 
j>ernnssion to take and disliibiite food to the sulVering people in Cuba. This 
otliciai permission was broadly puliiished. If read by our ]ieoi>le, no resi)onse 
was made and no action taken until two moutlis ago, when, under the huniane 
and };racious call of our honored President, I did go and distribute food, un- 
molested anywiiei'e on the island, until arraufii'UU'nts were uuide by our gov- 
erinnent for all .\mericaii cilizens to leave Cuba. I'ei'sons must now be dying 
there by hundreds, if not thousands, daily, for waid of the food we are slnitting 
out. ^\'ill not the world hold us accountable? Will history write us blame- 
less? \\\]\ it not be said of us that we com]ileteil the scheme of extermination 
commenced by Weyler? 

Foi'tiinately, *I know the Siuinish aiilliorilies in ('iilia. ('iijiliiin-i leneral 
Itlanco and his assislanis. We |iarle(l with perfect friendliness. They do not 
re};ai'd me as au .\merican merely, but as the National re]iresentative of an 
internal i(Mial tre:ily to which they themselves are signatory and under which 
they act. I believe Ihey woidd receive anil c(Uifer with me if such a thing were 
ni;iite possible. 

I should like to ask Spanish |)<'rinission and |irolcc linn (o land ami dis- 
tributi- fooil now itu (he Stale of Texas. Could I be ixrndtted to ask to see 
them uufler a \\,\}i of truce? If we make the elTort and are refused, the blame 
rests with them; if we fail to make it, it rests with us. I hold it aixu] statcs- 
manshi|i at least to divide the resjKmsibility. I am told that .sonu' days must 



MISS CLAEA BARTON AND THE RED CROSS. 247 

elapse before our troops can be in position to reaili and feed llicsc starving 
people. Our food and our forces are here, ready to commence at once. 

^Yitll assurances of highest regard, I am. Admiral, 
^'erv respectfully yours, 

[Signed] " " ' CLARA I'.AKTOX. 

At the time wlieu the above letter was wrillen, the American Red 
Cross was acting under the advice and direction of the State and Navy 
Departments, the War Department having uo force in the field. 

Admiral Sampson replied as follows: 

U. S. Flagship New York, First Rate, Key West, Fla., May 2, 1S08. 
Miss Clara Barton, I'resident American National Red Cross: 

1. I have received through the senior naval officer present a copy of a 
letter from the State Department to the Secretary of the Navy; a copy of a 
letter from the Secretary of the Navy to the Commander-in-Chief of the naval 
force at this station; and also a copy of a letter from the Secretary of the Navy 
to the commandant of the naval station at Key West. 

2. From these communications it appears that the destination of the S. S. 
State of Texas, loaded with supplies for the starving reconcentrados in Cuba, 
is left, in a measure, to my judgment. 

3. At present I am acting \inder instructions from the Navy Department 
to blockade the coast of Cuba for the purpose of preventing, among other 
things, any food supply from reaching the Spanish forces in Cuba. Under 
these circumstances it. seems to me unwise to let a ship-load of such supplies 
be sent to the reconcentrados, for, in my opinion, they would be distributed 
to the Spanish army. Until some point be occupied in Cuba by our forces, 
from which such distribution can be made to those for whom the supplies are 
intended, I am unwilling that they should be landed on Cuban soil. 

Yours very respectfully, 
[Signed] ' W. T. SAMRSON, 

Rear-Admiral U. S. N. 
Commander-in-Chief U. S. Naval Force, North Atlantic Station. 

After this exchange of letters Miss Bai-tou had a conference with 
Admiral Sanijison, in the course of which the latter explained more fully 
his reasons for declining to allow the State of Texas to enter any Cuban 
port until such i)ort had been occupied by American troops. 

On the 3d of May Miss Barton sent the following telegram to Stephen 
E. Barton, Chainnan of the Central Cuban Relief Committee, in XeW 
York: 



248 MISS CLAKA liAKTON AND TUE RED CROSS. 

Key \\fst. May a, 1898. 
Stephen E. Bartou, Chairman, etc.: 

Herewith I transmit copies of letters passed between Admiral Sampson 
and myself. I think it important that yon should ijrcsent immediately this eor- 
resj)ondenie pei'sonally to the f;o\einmcut, as it will place before them the ex- 
act situation here. The utmost cordiality.exists between Adnnral Samjjson and 
myself. The Admiral feels it his duty, as chief of the blockadiufr squadron, to 
keep food out of Cuba, but recojjnizes that, from my standpoint, my duty is to 
try to gft food into Cuba. If I insist, Admiral Sampson will try to open commu- 
nication under a flag of truce; but his letter expresses his oitiuiou regarding 
the best method. Advices from the government would enabli' us to reach a 
decision. Unless there is objection at Washington, you are at liberty to pub- 
lish this correspondence if you wish. 

[Signed] * CLARA RARTON. 

On May fi tlie Cliainnau of the Central Cuban Relief Coniniittoo re- 
plicnl as follows: 

Washington, 1). ("., May C, ISOS. 
Clara Barton, Key West, Fla.: 

Submitted your message to I'rcsident and Cabinet, and it was read willi 
moistened eyes. Considered serious and pathetic. Admiral Sampson's views 
regaided as wisest at present. IIojn' to land you soon. I'resident, Long, and 
Moore send highest regards. 

[Signed] r.ARTON. 

Under tiieso eirciinistauces, uf course, tliere was nothine' for the Red 
Ci'oss steamer to do but wait patiently in Key West until the army of 
invasion should leave Tampa for the C\iban coast. 

Meanwhile, however, Miss l?ai-ton had discovered a fiehl of beneficent 
activity for the Re'd Cross in Key West, where there were nearly 200 
Sjtaniards, mostly fishermen, prisoners on vessels captured while run- 
ning tiie blockade, and without means of subsistence. Jfost of these 
unfoi-tiinate men lived on lish after tiiey were cajttured and none of 
them had a chance to obtain other food, as under the law they were 
not jterinitted to leave their vessels. The naval oflicers had no authority 
to supply the ca|ilives witli food from the sliips in tlic harbor, so tlicir 
lot was far from being enviable. 

When Miss (lara Harton received word of their plight she sent Dr. 
Egan, the chief medical officer of the expedition, witii several attend- 
ants, around among the (leet of prizes to distribute food. On one of 
the larger smacks Dr. Egan found that the crew had had nothing but 



MISS CLARA BARTON AND THE RED CROSS. 249 

fish to eat for several days. The well iu the boat, in which there were 
hundreds of live fish, contained also a large number of dead ones, which 
were putrefied and were rapidly polluting the living ones. The physi- 
cian immediately ordered the dead fish removed and fresh water pumped 
into the well. He then furnished bread, potatoes and salt meat to the 
crew, so that the continuity of Friday diet might be changed. 

The Red Cross relief boats made a complete and accurate list of the 
Spanish prizes in the harbor — twenty-two in all — with the numerical 
strength of everj- crew, the amount of iH'ovisious, if any, on every vessel, 
and the quantity and kind of food that each would require. This was at 
once provided, and thus almost the first work done by the Red Ci'oss in 
our war with Spain was the feeding of representatives of a nation that 
had forced us into war mainly because of its policy of starvation of the 
people of Cuba. 



CIIAI'TKIJ XX XIV. 

THE OATASTlJol'lli: TO TIIK MAINE. 

Till- Hoard of lii(|iiirv in Session — lis Kcjiui-t lU'ccivcd liv ("tinfjri'ss — S|ianisli 
oilii ials ill ("iilia SIiow Svnipatli.v — Tiie Evidfiicc of tlu- Divi-r.s — .V Sub- 
inaiinc MiiU' — Tlic OtliiiTs and Men of tlic .Maini- ExoncraU-d — Hi-s|ion- 
sihilitv Not Fixed. 

The story of the destniciiun of the l)allleslii|> Maine has alieady 
boon told in tlioso jinj^o.s. Tin- Naval Hoard appointed to in(niire info 
tlio canscH of the di.sastor was coinposod of tiie followiii!; oflicers of the 
Fniled Slatos Navy: Cajitain Sampson, of tlio Iowa; Captain Ciiad- 
wick, of the Ni'W York; Cajitain Mari.v, of tiic A'erniont, ami Lientenant 
( 'nnmiandcr l'ott<'r, of tiie New Yoi-k. 

After an investipition which lasted fur iikhc tliaii tliree weeks, this 
]{oard of Impiiry sont it.s report to President .McKinlcy, who iiansniit- 
ted it to ('on;;ress, accompanieil t»y tho f(dlowing niossajjo: 

To tiie (■oll;;ress of lile I'llilcd States; 

For Konic time jnior to tin- visit of the Main(> to Havana harbor our con- 
Bular re[ireHentative,s ]ioint(il out llic a<lvantanes to tlow from tlie visits of 
national ships to the Cuban waters, in acc-nstomin;; the peojije to tho presence 
of (»ur lia^' as tlic symbol of <;(»od will and of our shijis in the fiilliilnient of tho 
mission of jir<ilc<'lion to American interests, even thou^'ii no iiiiiiie(liate need 
therefor mijilil exist. 

.XcPordin^dy. on the l.'ltli of .lanmiry last, after conference with the Sjian- 
isli .Minister, in which the renewal of visits of our war vessels to Sitanish 
waters was disciisscil and accepted, the peninsular authorities at Ma<lrid and 
Havana were advised of the purpose of lids (ioverniiient to resume friendly 
naval visits at <'nban jiorts, and in that \ iew the Maine would forthwith call 
at the port of Havana. This announcement was received by the Spanish (lov- 
ornment with appreciation of the friendly character of Ihe visit of the .Maine, 
and with nolilication <»f intention to return the courtesy by setidinf^ Spanish 
ships to the prinii|ial ports of the I'lnled States. Meanwhile the .Maine en- 
tered the jtort of Havana on the L'.'illi of .l.-inuary, her arrival bein^ marked 
with no siiecial incident besidi'S (he e.\ciian;;e of custiiiiiary saliiles and ler- 
enionial visits. 

The Maine continued in tlie harbor of Ibnana diiriii'' the three weeks 



il^ 



TEE CATASTKOI'irE TO TIIK .MAINE. 251 

followiiij^- licr arrival. No ainncciahlc ('.xcitciiiciil aKriidcd licr stay; on llic 
contrary, ii feeling of relief and contidenee followed Ihe resnniiition of the 
long interrui)ted friendly lutereoiirse. So noticeable was this immediate 
effect of her visit that the (/onsnl(ieneral strongly urged that the i)resence 
of our shii)S in Cubau waters should be kept up by retaining the Maine at 
Havana, or, iu the I'vent of her recall, by sending another vessel theic to take 
her place. 

At forty nunutes past nine in the evening of the loth of February the 
Maine was destroyed by an explosion, by which the entire forward pai't of the 
ship was utterly wrecked. In this catastrophe two oHicers and two hundred 
and sixty-four of her crew perished, those who were not killed outright by her 
explosion being jjcnned between decks by the tangle of wieckage and 
drowned by the immediate sinking of the hull. 

Prouijit assistance was rendered by the neighboring vessels anchored in 
the harbor, aid being especially given by the boats of the Spanish cruiser Al- 
phonse XIL, and the Ward Line steamer City of Washington, which lay not 
far distant. The wounded were generously cared for by the authorities of 
Havana, the hospitals being freely opened to them, while the earliest recov- 
ered bodies of the dead were interred by the municipality iu the public ceme- 
tery in the city. Tributes of grief and sympathy were offered from all official 
quarters of the island. 

The appalling calamity fell upon the people of our country with crushing 
force and for a brief time an intense excitement j)revailed, which in a commu- 
nity less just and self-controlled than ours might have led to hasty acts of 
blind resentment. This spirit, however, soon gave way to the calmer proce.sses 
of reason and to the resolve to investigate the facts and await material proof 
before forming a judgment as to the cause, the responsibility, and, if the facts 
warranted, the remedy. This course necessarily recommended itself from the 
outset to the Executive, for only in the light of a dispassionately ascertained 
certainty could it determine the nature and measure of its full duly in the 
matter. 

The usual jirocedure was followed, as in all cases of casualty or disaster 
to national vessels of any maritime state. A Naval Court of Inquiry was at 
once organized, composed of officers well qualified by rank and i)ractical ex- 
perience to disiharge the duties imposed upon them. Aided by a strong force 
of wreckers and divers, the court proceeded to nuike a thorough investigation 
on the spot, employing every available means for the impartial and exad de- 
termination of the causes of the explosion. Its operations have been con- 
ducted with the utmost deliberation and judgment, and while independently 
pursued, no source of information was neglected and the fullest opportunity 
was allowed for a simultaneous investigation by the Spanish authorities. 



253 THE CATAi^TKOrnE TO THE MAINE. 

Report of the Board Received. 

Q'hc tiiidiiii; of thf ('(nirl of liKiiiirv was reached alter tweiitvthree days 
of continuous labor, ou the L'lst of March, and having been apin'oved on the* 
'2'2il by the comnianderin-clnef of thi' I'nited States naval forces of the North 
Atlantic station, was transmitted to the Executive. 

It is herewith laid before Conyfess, together with the voluiiiiiious l( sti- 
niony taken before the coui't. Its purport is in ))rief as follows: 

When the Maine arrived at Havana she was conducted by the regular 
government pilot to Ktioy No. 5, to which she was moored in from live and 
one-half to six fathoms of water. The state of discii)line ou board and the 
condition of her magazines, boilers, coal bunkers and storage compartnu-uts 
are passed in review, with the conclusion that excellent order prevailed and 
that no indication of any cause for an iiileiiial exjilosion existed in any 
(juarter. 

At eight o'clock in the evening of Fi'bruary l.")th everything had bi'en re- 
ported secure and all was (juiet. At forty minutes past nine o'clock the vessel 
was suddenly destroyed. There were two di.stinct. explosions with a brief in- 
terval between them. The tir.st lifted the forward part of the .shi]* very jier- 
ceptibly; the second, which was more open, prolonged and of greater volume, 
is attributed by the court, to the partial explosion of two or more of the for- 
ward magazines. 

The evidence of the divers establishes liiat the after ]iart of the sliiji was 
j)ractically intact and sank in that condition a very few minutes after the ex- 
jilosion. The forward i)art was completely demoli.slu'd. Upon the evidence 
of a ( ciiKurrent exti-rnal cause the (imling of the court is as follows: 

At frame seventeen the outer shell of the ship, from a point eleven and 
one-half feel from the middle line of the ship, and six feet above the keel, when 
in its normal position, has been forced up so as to be now about four feet 
above the surface of the water; therefore nlioiii iliirly f(jur feci above wlnre 
it would ])(■ had the ship siiidc uninjured. 

The outside bottom plating is bent into a reversiHl N'-shajie, the after wing 
of which, about fifteen feet broad and thirty-two feet in length (frame 17 to 
frame U")), is doubled back ujion itself against the continualiim of the same 
place extending forward. At frame IS the vertical keel is broken in two ami 
the Hat keel bent into an angle similar to the angh' formed by the outside bot- 
tom ])lale. This break is now about six feet below the surface of the water and 
about thirty feel above its normal position. 

A Submarine Mine. 

In the opinion of the conit lliis etl'ect could have been produced only by 
the explosion of a mine situated under the bottom of the ship, at about frame 
l.s and somewhat on the ](ort side of the ship. 



THE CATASTROrnE TO THE MAINE. 353 

The conclusions of the court are: That the loss of the Maine was not 
in any respect due to fault or negligence on the part of any of the officers or 
members of her crew; 

That the ship was destroyed by the explosion of a submarine mine, which 
caused the partial explosion of two or more of her forward- magazines; and 

That no evidence has been obtainable fixing the respousibilily for the de- 
struction of the Maine upon any person^or persons. 

I have directed that the finding of the Court of Inquiry and the views 
of this Government thereon be conmiunicated to the Government of Her 
Majesty, the Queen Regent, and I do not permit myself to doubt that the sense 
of justice of the Spanish nation will dictate a course of action suggested by 
honor and the friendly relations of the two governments. 

It will be the duty of the Executive to advise the Congress of the result, 
and in the meantime deliberate consideration is invoked. 

(Signed,) WILLIAM McKINLEY. 

Executive Mansion, March 28, 1898. 

Report of the Investigating Board. 

The text of the report of tlie Board of Investigation was as follows: 

IT. S. S. Iowa, first rate. Key West, Florida, Monday, March '21, 1898. 
After full and mature consideration of all the testimony before it, the 
court finds as follows: 

1. That the United States battleship JIaine arrived in the harbor of Ha- 
vana, Cuba, on the twenty-fifth day of January, Eighteen Hundred and Ninety- 
eight, and wais taken to Buoy No. 4, in from five and a half to six fathoms of 
water, by the regular Government pilot The United States Consul-General 
at Havana had notified the authorities at that place the previous evening of 
the intended arrival of the Maine. 

2. The state of discipline on board the ^Maine was excellent, and all 
orders and regulations in regard to the care and safety of the ship were strict- 
ly carried out. All ammuniticm was stowed in accordance with prescribed in- 
structions, and i)roper care was taken whenever ammunition was. handled. 
Nothing was stowed in any one of the magazines or shell rooms which was 
not permitted to be stowed there. 

The magazine and shell rooms were always locked after having been 
opened, and after the destruction of the Maine the keys were found in their 
proper place in the Captain's cabin, everything having been reported secure 
that evening at eight P. M. The temperatures of the magazines and shell 
room were taken daily and reported. The only magazine which had an undue 
amount of heat was the after 10-inch magazine, and that did not (>xplodo at 
the time the Maine was destroyed. 



~'54 TUr: CATASTKdl'lII-: TO 'I'lIK MAlNi:. 

The toriiedi) \varli<ii<ls wnc all siiiwid in the allci- pail of the ship iiiulcr 
the ward room, and Hfitlu-r faiiscd iior participated iu (he di'stnictioii of the 
Maine. The drv ;iiin eotton primers and detonators were stowed in the eabiu 
aft, and remote from the seene of the exjilosion. 

Waste was earefullv looked after on board the Maine to obviate dany;er. 
Sjieeial orders in rej^ard to tliis liad been }j;iveu bv the commanding ollicer. 
\'aruishes, dryers, alcoiiol and other combustibh's of tliis nature were stowed 
on or above the main deck and could nt)t have had anything to do with the 
destruction of the Maine. The medical stores were stored aft under the ward 
room and remote from the scene of tiie exidosion. No dangerous stores of any 
kind were stowed below iu any of the other store rooms. 

The coal bunkers were inspected daily. Of those bunkers adjacent to the 
forward magazines and shell rooms four were empty, namely, "B'.i, H4, B") and 
r.t!.'" ".\.'>" had been in use that day and ".VIG" was full of new river coal. 
This coal had been carefully inspected before recei\ing it »>n board. The bun- 
ker in which it was .stowed was accessible uii three sides at all times, and the 
fourth side at this limi-, (Ui account of linnkrrs "IM" and "HH" being empty. 
This bunker, "A Ui," had btiii inspclcd Mdmiay by Iji.- cie.'iniii- oflicer on 
duty. 

'I'iie (ire alarms in the bunkci-s wiic in working order, .iiid i line h.id n(V<'r 
been a case of spiuitaiieous cinnbustiiui of coal on board the .Maine. Tlic two 
after boilers of the shij) were in u.se at the time of the disaster, but for auxil- 
iary purjioses only, with a ct)mi)aratively low j)ressure of steam and being 
tended by a reliable watch. These boilers could not havi- caused ilie explo- 
sion of the ship. The four forward boilers have since been found by t lie divers 
and are in a fair condition. 

On the night of the destruction of the .Maine eveiyihing had been ri]iorted 
■secure for the night at eight ]'. .M. by ri'liable jn-isons, through the proper 
authorities, to the commanding ollicer. .\t the time the Maine was destroyed 
the shiji was ipiiet, and, therefore, least liable to accident caused by move- 
nients fr(uii those on board. 

."'.. The tleslruction of the .Maine occurred ;it :t:l(l 1' . .M. on the l.'iii day of 
rebruaiy, Isits, in the harbor of Havana, Cuba, she being at lln' lime moored 
to the same buoy to which she had been taken njion her arrival. 

Then- were two exjilosions of a distinctly dilTerent characier. willi a \'ery 
short but distinct interval between them, and the forward j)art of ilie ship 
was lifted to a marked degree at the time of the llrst explosion. 

The first explosion was more in the nature of a report, like tluit of a gun, 
while the second exjilosion was more open, jtrolonged and of greater volume. 
This second explosion was, in the oiiinion of the court, caused by the partial 
ex|ilosion of t\v«i or more of the forward magazines of the .Maine. 

The evidence bearing up(Ui this, being priniijially obtained from divers, 
did not enable the court to ft>rm a delinite conclusion as to the comlition of 



THE CATASTKOrnE TO THE MAINE. 255 

the wreck, al(li(iiif;h it was (•stahli^ll(■(] that tlii' alter jiarl ot I he sliij) was 
practically intact and sanlv in that condition a vci_v few niinules after I lie de- 
strnction of the forward part. 

4. The following facts in regard to the forward part of the ship are, how- 
ever, established by the testimony: That portion of the port sid(> of the pro- 
tective deck which extends from about frame 3t) to about frame 41 was blown 
lip aft, and over to port, the main deck from about frame 30 to about frame 
41 was blown up aft, and slightly over to starboard, folding the forward [lart 
of the middle superstructure over and on top of the after part. 

This was, in the opinion of the court, caused by the partial explosion of 
two or more of the forward magazines of the Haine. 

5. At frame 17 the outer shell of the ship, from a point eleven and one- 
half feet from the middle line of the ship amd six feet above the keel when in 
its normal position, has been forced up so as to be now about four feet above 
the surface of the water, therefore, about thirty-four feet above where it 
would be had the ship sunk uninjured. The outside bottom plating is bent 
into a reversed V-shape, the after wing of which, about lifteeu feet broad and 
thirty-two feet in length (from frame 17 to frame 1'5) is doubled back upon it- 
self against the continuation of the same plating extending forward. 

At frame IS the vertical keel is broken in two and the tiat keel bent into 
an angle similar to the angle formed by the outside bottom plating. This 
break is now about six feet below the surface of the water and about thirty 
feet above its normal position. 

The Officers of the Maine Exonerated. 

In the opinion of the court this effect could have been produced only by 
the explosion of a mine situated under the bottom of the ship at about frame 
IS, and somewhat on the port side of the ship. 

0. The court finds that the loss of the Elaine on' thi' occasion named was 
not in any resptx-t due to fault or negligence on the part of the oflicers or men 
of the crew of said vessel. 

7. In the opinion of the court the Maine was destroyed by the explosion 
of a submarine mine, which caused the partial exi)losi(m of two of her for- 
ward magazines. 

'E. The court has been unable to obtain evidence tixing the responsibility 
for the destruction of the JIaine upon any person or jiersons. 

W. T. SAMrSON, 
Captain U. S. N., Pi-esident. 
A. MAEIX, 
Lieutenant-Commander U. S. N., Judge A'dvocate. 



! CHAPTER XXXV. 

PATIENCE AT THE V^\JS^SHI^'G POINT. 

Our FdiiiitT Troubles with Spain Kcialk-d — The \'i'rdict of the I'eople — 
Sjiauish Kuie a IJlol ou Civilization — The Attitude of Other Nations — 
The Necessity for Delay — The Messap- to ("on},M'ess — "Tlie War in ("uha 
Must Stop!" 

The Aiiierieaii jK-ople did not wait for the report of the Naval Board 
fo form an opinion as to the cause of the trajjedy. The masses think 
in events, and not in syllogisms, and this was an event. This event 
provoked susjiicious in tlie public mind. The thou<;lit of the whole 
nation was instantly directed to Cuba. The fate of the sailoi^s on the 
Vir<;inius, twenty-five yeai-s ayo, was recallwl. The public curiosity 
about everythinj;' Cuban and SiKinish became intense. The Weyler 
method of warfare became more <;;enerally known. The story of our 
lonj; dij)lomatic trouble with Spain was recalled. Dijdomacy was 
obli;:;ed to proewnl with doors less securely shut. The country watched 
for news from Wasliiufjton and from Madrid with eagerness. It ha]>- 
jiened lo he a sini,qilarly (piiet and even dull time in oiir own ]»iliii(al 
life — a time favorable for the concentration of )iublic attention on any 
.subject that prominently ]»reseuted itself. 

Leslie's Weekly vfiiced llie popular seiilinieiil in its issue of April 
14 in the followiii<i lan;;ua;ie: 

"If the i'e])ort of the board of in(|uiry is accejited as linal, then tlu; 
<les(ruclion of the .Maine was an act of war. The .Maine was in a S])an- 
ish harbor on a peaceful errand. Its location was fixed by the Spanish 
aulliorities, and if a mine was planteil in the harbor, it co\ilil only have 
been planted by Hie ."Spaniards. To lliink otherwise is to disciedii the 
ollicial reiM)rt. The verdict may be challenj^ed by tlie Sjianisli "govern- 
ment. Spain may insist on the raisiuff of the wreck and upon an e.xpert 
examination. If such an examination is made, and if the weight of 
evidence controverts the vei-dict, our position will Ik- iMimiliatinj;. We 
take it, therefore, that our {roveniment is entirely satisfied with the 
examination, and that it accepts the verdict of the court of inquire' as 
linal and without aiijieal. This verdict makes Spain re.si)onsil)le for the 

259 




A TYPICAL SPANISH MAIDEN 



258 TATIKXCK AT THK VANlSniXO POINT. 

IMiui'd, if uot })i('Vi'nt(Hl, but the i)(>i)ular mood was at least accinicscent, 
if uot insistent, and it eveutiially beeaiiii' unuiistakably approving. 

Not only was there in the United 8tjites an inuiuslakable jjojiular 
approval of war as the only ett'eetive means of restoring;' civilization in 
Cuba, but the judj;nient of the Euj;lish peo|)le promptly aiii)roved it — • 
lilviuji evidence of an instinctive race and institutional sympatliy. If 
Anjilo-Saxou institutions and methods stand for auythinji, the institu- 
tions and methods of Sjjanish rule in Cuba were an abomination and a 
reproach. And En<;lish sympathy was not more signiticaut as an evi- 
dence of the necessity of the war, and as a p;ood omen fm- tlic lulure of 
free institutions, than the ecpially instinctive sympatliy wiih Simin that 
was expressed by some of the decadent influences on the continent; in- 
deed, the real meaning (»f the American civilization and ideals will 
henceforth be sonicwlial more ch'ai'ly iiiidcrslood in several (|uarlei-s of 
the world. 

.American character will be still Itetter understood when the whole 
world clearly jx-rceives that the jiurpose of the war was only to remove 
from our very doors this cruel and inetlicient piece of mediav alism which 
was one of the fjreat scandals of the dosinji' years of the century. 

Xotwitlistandin<,^ the fact that we were on the veiy verjje of wai-, with 
all its horrors, all its ])ossibilities of destruction to life and happiness, 
the nation pursued its ai rustdnicd way, transacted its business by day, 
and slept ]ieacefully at nii^lit. Ipon the shoulders of the Chief Execu- 
tive rested the jiTavesi of all rcsiKUisibililies, and the nation trusted to 
him to carry it safely. Hash and im])etuous denuinds foi- hasiy nnd 
hostile action wei-e heard. ( ■<tiif;ressmen, under the ])rcssiirc of iheir 
constituents, tilled the air with cries for speeily action, but amiil all the 
tumult the President stood serene. He realized, what the country, 
strangely enou>ih, had not coniprchcndcil, ihal we were diiftiin;' iiilo a 
conllici with a nation that was on a war looiiui;. lie knew that we 
were totally unpi'ejiared for war. .M iiiiii ions, sliijis, stores, siip|)lies, of 
vast amouni and inlinile varii't.\, were absolutely rniuired before a 
step could be taken. Harbor defenses, a closer mnniMlinn liciwrcii ex- 
])ose<l jioints, and the installation of modern aiiiiauicnis a ilionsand 
Ihini^s had to be done, and (h>ne al once. .Moiliin -iins rii|iiii iil su]i]ilies 
of modern ammunition, of which there was scarcely any to be oi)lained 
on this side <»f the water. This was the situation, as the President, the 
heads of the army and the navy, and the Cabinet saw it, and it was left 
discreet Iv undisclosed to the world. 



PATIENCE AT THE VANISniXG TOIXT. 259 

They iindei"stood the necessity of dehiy as well as the necessity for 
statesmanship of the highest quality in dealing with the Cuban question. 
We lost nothing by their delay. We gained untold advantages by their 
prudence, a prudence that never forsook them, even when the prepara- 
tions for war were completed. The message to Congress was a calm, 
dispassionate, judicial presentation of the case, and upon that presenta- 
tion of facts and of evidence w^e went before the jury of the nations of the 
A\-orld. There could be but one verdict rendered that the American 
people could accept, and that verdict, whether it came by peace or war, 
was, in the language of the President's message, that "the war in Cuba 
must stoi>!" 



OIJAPTEK XXXVI. 

EVENTS LN THE AMERICAN CONGRESS. 

Cuba's Frii'iid.s in Coiijrri'ss — Senator I'loetor's AtUlri'ss to His Colleafiucs — 
A NotabU' Exhibition of Patriotisni — An .Vpiiropriation for the Na- 
tional DetVnst' — Ri'lii'f for tlie Siirvivois and N'ictinis of the Maine — 
The Keeofinitiou of Cuban Independence. 

Fidiu the date of tlio first attempt of tlie jjcople of Cuba to seeure 
their iiidependeneo from Spain, tbej have liad advoeatos in the Ameri- 
can ("ouj^ress who have worked with voice aiul vote iu their belialf. 
After the commeneement of the revolution iu 1895 these chami»ioiis 
{rradiially increased in numbers and iuHiienee, UJiti! at the time of Mr. 
McKinley'.s inaujiuratiou they included in their laiiUs manv of I lie lead- 
ers in both houses. 

In February, ISOS, several Senators and Kepreseiitatives went to 
Cuba for the purpose of stiitlyiny the conditions on (he island, and to 
gain a personal knowledge of the results of Spain's policy of rule or ruin. 

Senator I'rocior was one of this committee, and after their return to 
the Cniled States, in a speech to his colleagues, he made the strongest 
argnmeiil in faMii- i>( intervention in behalf of Cuba that was ever made 
in the Senate nf ilie Cnited Slates, lie had carefnlly ])re])ared his 
address, and be delivered il as an ollicial re])ort of what he bad observe<l 
on (he island, lie gave no oiiinion of wlia( action should be taken by the 
government. lie said (he seKlenu-nt "may well be left lo an Anu'rican 
I'residenl and the .Vnu'rican ]>eoide." Itnt while he did not make a 
reccMunu-ndation in so many words, he lefl (he impression with all wlio 
heard him (ha( he favored a declaration by our governmeni of I lie in- 
depemlence of Cuba, lie deilai'ed (lia( he was oi»]iosed to anncxatinn, 
and, while many Cubans advocated (be es(ablishmen( of a i)ro(ectoia(e 
by (he Cnited S(a(es, he coubl not make up his mind (hat this w<Mild be 
the best way out of the dillicuKy. He (old bis associales (bat he believed 
tlie Cubans cai)abie of governing themselves, and reinfoiced this state- 
ment by (he asseHiou (hat the Cuban population would never be sat- 
isfied with any government under Sjianish rule. The senator's remark- 
able speech undoMliicJIv bad a powerful elTect, both in inlluencing con- 



EVENTS IN THE AMERICAN CONGRESS. 261 

gressional actiou, and in swaying public opinion. As an able and re- 
sponsible member of Congress and an ex-secretary of war, his words 
would carry weight under any circumstances, but apart from those con- 
siderations, the speech was notable because of its evident fidelity to 
facts, and its restraint from everything resembling sensationalism. 

A Notable Exhibition of Patriotism. 

There was never a. more notable exhibiton of harmony and patriotism 
in any legislative body in the world than occurred in the Uouse of Rep- 
resentatives when Congressman Cannon presented .a bill a])propriating 
.150,000,000 for the national defense and placing this amount in Presi- 
(h'ut McKinley's hands, to be expended at his discretion. 

Party lines were swept away, and with a uniuiimous voice Congress 
voted its confidence in the administration. Many members who were 
paired with absent colleagues took the responsibility of breaking their 
pairs, an unprecedented thing in legislative annals, in order that they 
might go on record in support of this vast appropriation to maintain 
the dignity and honor of their country. Speaker Reed, who as the pre- 
siding officer, seldom voted, except in case of a tie, had his name called 
and voted in his capacity as representative. The scene of enthusiasm 
which greeted the announcement of the vote — yeas, 311; nays, none — has 
seldom been paralleled in the House. The bill passed the Senate with- 
out a dissenting vote, and, on March 9, the President signed the measure, 
thus making it a law. 

Relief for the Survivors of the Maine. 

On March 21, the House unanimously passed the bill for the relief 
of the survivors and victims of the Maine disaster. The bill reimbursed 
the sui'viving officers and men for the losses they sustained to an amount 
not to exceed a year's sea pay, and directed the payment of a. sum equal 
to a yea.i''s pay to the legal heire of those who perislied. 

When the President sent to Congress the report of the Naval Board 
of Examiners the feeling of that body at once found open expression in 
resolutions proposing a declaration of war, recognition of the indepen- 
dence of Cuba, armed inteiwention, and other decisive and warlike steps 
against Spain. Eveiy group of senators talked of Cuba. Constant and 
continual conferences were held, and all recognized the seriousness of 
the occasion. On the House side it was apparent that the majority 



202 KV i:\TS IX TIIK AM KIM CAN (ONcJinOSS. 

toiild no l()nj:;('r be coiitiollcd ]>y what wa.s known as the conservative 
ek'nu'nt, led by the si)eaker. ( ironjis of nicinlHTs in a state of excitement 
were to be seen on every hand. It was j^enerally acknowhMl^'cd tiiat a 
serious condition had arisen, that a crisis was at hand. 

On April 11 the hmj:; expected niessa<;e was received. In it tho 
President asked Confjress to autliorize him to take measures to secure 
a termination of hostilities in Cuba, and to secure in the island the es- 
tabiisliment of a stable form of }iovernnient, and to use the military and 
naval forces of the United States as mi}jht bo necessary. Tlie messajie 
was received in silence. The most notable criticism made was the entire 
absence of any reference to Cuban independence. The admission in the 
lui'ssajre that the President had ])roposed an armistice to Sjjain until 
October ])rovoked vi^mrous comment. Put conservative meuibcrs were 
lii;;lily ]>leased with the position taken by the rrcsidciit, ;iiul iiiany still 
hoped that war nii<ilit l)e prevented. 

However, this did not jji-eveiit the purchase of a number of armed 
cruisers from forei^;n jiowers, which were tr-.msferred to the riiitetl 
States fla;::. The shijis of several ]>assen}ier and mail lines were also 
purchased, or leased as auxiliary cruiser.s, and were al oiue renianned 
and put in commission. Tlir mo.st notable examples were the two .Vnier- 
ican built ships, St. I'aiil and St. I.ouis of the .Vmerican line Tlir new 
jiurchases were fitted t'oi' ihcir new uses at once, and ihe ]>ii paialions 
for war went on wit lion I delay. 

('onj,'ress, takin*,' its cue from Hie President, iinilcd iijion the Inllow- 
in^'- resoliiiions, wlii<li were siiined by (he I'icsidciit on Ajirij Ud: 

Joiiil i-fsii|iitiiins for the rccn^^nilion of the intlepetidence of the ]ic(i|ili' of 
Ciilia deniaiHJiii;; that llie };nvernnieiit of Spain reliminisli its aidlioiily ami 
;,'overiiiiieiit in llie island of ('idi:i. and to willidraw its land and naval forces 
from Cuba and Culmn waters, and directing; the President of the I'liiled States 
to use the land ami naval fon .s of i In- I' nil. d Slates to cany these resolutions 
into elTecl. 

Whereas, The abhorrent conditions which have existed for more than 
three years in the island of Cuba, so near our own borders, have shocked the 
moral sense of the peojile of the I'nited Slates, have been a disfjraoe to Chris- 
tian civilization, cnlininatin;.', as tln"y have, in the destruction of a United 
States battleship, with L'tKt of its onicers and crew, while on a friendly visit 
in the harbor of Havana, and cannot longer be eiidincd, as has been set forth 
by the Prenident of the United States in his niessane to Congress of April 11, 
ls;ts, upon which the action of (.'ongresH was invited; therefore, be it resolved: 



EVENTS IN TFIK AMERICAN CONGRESS. 2r,3 

First — That the pcoiilc of llic island of Cuba arc, and of rij;lil ou^lil lo he, 
froe and indcjK'ndcnt. 

Second — Thai it is the duty of (he United States to demand, and the '^o\- 
crnment of the United States does hereby demand, that the <iOvernment of 
Spain at once relinquish its anthority and <i<'vei'nnient in the island of Cuba 
and Cuban waters. 

Third— That the Uresideut of the United States be, and hereby is, directed 
and empowered to use the entire land and naval forces of the United States, 
and to call into the actual service of the United States the militia of the sev- 
eral States to such an extent as may be necessary to carry these resolutions 
into effect. 

Fourth — That the United States hereby disclaims any disi)osition or in- 
tention to exercise sovereignty, jurisdiction or control over said island, except 
for the pacification thereof, and asserts its determination when that is accom- 
plished to leave the government and control of the island to its people. 



CHAPTER XXXVII. 

< 
PRESIDENT MoKINLEY ACTS. 

The Message to Congress — Loss of Auioi-iean Trade — Terrible Increase in the 
Death Kate — American Aid for the Starving — The President's Proposi- 
tion to Spain — Grounds fur Intervention — The Destruction of the 
Maine — Tlie Addenda. 

With the jjress and ])nl(]ic of the entire oonntry at a fever heat of 
indiguation, and the evident determination on the part of a large raa- 
joritv of llie menibei"s of the Congress of theUuited States to bring mat- 
ters to a crisis, it was evident to all that the time for action had arrived. 

The President yielded to the populai' demand, and on April 11 he 
sent to Congress the following message: 

To the Congress of the Ignited States: 

Obedient to that precept of the Constitution wliich coniniands the Presi- 
dent to give from time to time to the Congress information of the state of the 
Union, and to recommend to their consideration sudi measures as he shall 
judge nei'essarv and expedient, it becomes my duty now to address your body 
with regard to the grave crisis that has ai'isen in the relations of the Cnited 
States to Sj)ain l)y reason of tlie warfare that for more than three years has 
raged in the neigld)oring island of Cuba. I do so because of the Intimate con- 
nection of the Cuban (juestion with Ihe state of our own Union, and the grave 
rehition the course of which it is now incumbent upon the nation to adopt, 
must needs bear to the traditional jiolicy of our Oovernment if it is to accord 
Avith the precepts laid down by the founders of the Republic and religiously 
obser\-ed by succeeding administi'ations to the present day. 

Tlie present revolution is but the successor of other similar insuircctions 
wliich have occurred in Cuba against the dominion of Spain, extending over 
a i)eriod of nearly half a century, each of which dui'ing its progress has sub- 
jected the United States to great elTort and expense in enfoi'cing its neutrality 
laws, caused cnoi'mous losses to American trade and connnerce, caused irri- 
tation, annoyance and disturbance among our citizens, and by the exercise of 
cruel, barbarous and uncivilized practices of warfare, shocked the sensibili- 
ties and offended the humane sympathies of our people. 

Since the present revolution began, in February. 189,'). this country has 
seen the fertile domain at our threshold ravaged by fire and sword in the 

364 



PRESIDENT McKINLEY ACTS. 265 

course of a straggle uneqiialed iu the history of tlie ishiiul, and rarely par- 
alleled as to tjie number of the combatants and the bitterness of the contest 
by any revolution of modern times, where a dependent people striving to be 
free have been oppressed by the power of the sovereign State. Our people have 
beheld a once prosperous community reduced to comparative want, its lucra- 
tive commerce virtually paralyzed, its exceptional productiveness diminished, 
its fields laid waste, its mills in ruins, and its people perishing by tens of thou- 
sands from hunger and destitution. We have found ourselves constrained 
in the observance of that strict neutrality which our laws enjoin, and which 
the law of nations commands, to police our waters and watcli our own sea- 
ports in prevention of any unlawful act in aid of the Cubans. 

Loss of American Trade. 

Our trade has suffered, the capital invested by our citizens in Cuba has 
been largely lost, and the temper and forbearance of our people have been so 
seriously tried as to beget a perilous unrest among our own citizens, which 
has inevitably found its expression from time to time in the National Legis- 
lature, so that issues wholly external to our own body politic stand in the 
way of that close devotion to domestic advancement that becomes a self-con- 
tained commonwealth, whose primal maxim has been the avoidance of all 
foreign entanglements. All this must needs awaken, and has indeed aroused, 
the utmost concern on the part of this government, as well during my prede- 
cessor's term as in my own. 

In April, 1800, the evils from which our country suffered through the 
Cuban war became so onerous that my predecessor made an effort to bring 
about a peace through the mediation of this government in any way that 
might tend to an honorable adjustment of the contest between Spain and her 
revolted colony, on the basis of some effective scheme of self-government for 
Cuba under the flag and sovereignty of Spain. It failed, through the refusal 
of the Spanish Government then in power to consider any form of mediation, 
or, indeed, any plan of settlement which did not begin with the actual sub- 
misision of the insurgents to the mother country, and then only on such terms 
as Spain herself might see fit to grant. The war continued unabated. The 
resistance of the insurgents was in no wise diminished. 

The efforts of Spain were increased, both by the despatch of fresh levies 
to Cuba and by the addition to the horrors of the strife of a new and inhuman 
phase, happily unprecedented in the modern history of civilized Christian 
peoples. The policy of devastation and concentration by the Captain-Gen- 
eral's bando of October, 181)6, in the province of Pinar del Rio was thence ex- 
tended to embrace all of the island to which the power of the Spanish arms 
was able to reach by occupation or by military operations. The peasantry, 
including all dwelling in the open agricultural interior, were driven into the 



266 I'KESIDENT .M.KINI.KY ACTS. 

{garrison towns or isolated iilaics lnUl liv llu- troojis. TIil- laisiuj; aud inoviii}: 
of jirovisions of all kinds wciv intcrditti'd. Tho tiidds were laid waste, dwell- 
in}.'s unroofed and tired, mills destroyed, and, iu short, everythinf; that could 
desolate the land aud render it uutit for human habitation or supjuMt was 
commanded by one or the other of the contendinfi parties and executed by all 
the powers at their disjiosal. 

liy the time the present administration took oflice a year a^o, recoucen- 
tration — so-called — had been made eflective over the better part of the four 
central and western provinces, Santa Clara, Matauzas, Havana and I'inar del 
Kio. The ap:ricullural population, to the estimated number of :!(lll.()()(», or 
more, was herded within the towns and their immediate vicinafje, de])iived of 
the means of support, rendered destitute of shelter, left poorly clad, and ex- 
j)osed to the most unsanitary conditifnis. As the scarcity of food incicased 
with the devastation of the (h'populated areas of production, destitution and 
want became misery and starvation. 

Terrible Increase in the Death Rate. 

Month by month ihe death rale increased in an alarniin;; ratio, liy .March, 
ISUT, accoidin}; to conservative estimate from oflicial S])anisli sources, the 
mortality amouf; the reconcentrados, from starvation and the diseases thereto 
incident, exceeded ~A) per centum of their total number. No practical rt'lief 
was accorded to the destitute. The overburdened towns, already sutlerintJ 
from the general (h-arth, could j;ive no aid. 

In tills slate of alTaii's my administration foniid ilself conri-onted wilh 
the urave proiilem of its d\ity. .My messajie of last December reviewed the 
situation, ami nai'rated the steps taken with a \ lew 1o relieving,' its aculeness 
and ojieiiint; 'be way to some foi-m of honorable sellleiiieiii. 'I'lie assassina- 
tion of Ihe I'rinie .Minister, Canovas, led to a chaiiffe of y;o\ernnient in Spain. 
The former adminisli'alion. pled;;ed lo subjujralion without concession, jjave 
place lo that of a more lilieral parly, committed Uma in advance to a ])olicy of 
reform involviu}; Ihe wider |U'inci|ile of Ikmuc rule for Cuba and Puerto Kico. 

The overtures of this pnernmeni made throujcli its new Envoy, (ienei'al 
Woodford, and lookinj: lo an immediate and efTective amelioration of the con- 
dition of the island, althou{,'h not accepted to the extent of admitted media- 
tion in any shaiie, were met l>y assui-ances that home rule, in an advancinl 
phase, would be foi'thwilh olTered to Cuba, without wailinjr for the war to end, 
and that more humane methods slimild liciKcfoilli prevail in the conduct of 
hoHtilities. 

American Aid for the Starving. 

While these neuotiations wore in |)rof:reH.'<, Ihe increasinf; deslitution of 
tbo uufortunale reconcentrados nnd tin- alarniiny mortality among llieni 



PRESIDENT McKlXLEY ACTS. 2G7 

claimed earnest attention. The success wliidi had attended the limited meas- 
ure of relief extended to the suffering American citizens among them bv the 
judicious expenditure through the Consular agencies of the money appro- 
priated expressly for their succor by the joint resolution approved May 24, 
1897, prompted the humane extension of a similar scheme of aid to the great 
body of sufferers. A suggestion to this end was acquiesced in by the Spanish 
authorities. On the 24th of December last I caused to be issued an appeal to 
the American people inviting contributions in money or in kind for the suc- 
cor of the starving sufferers in Cuba, followed this on the Stli of January by 
a similar public announcement of the formation of a Central Cuban Relief 
Committee, with headquarters in New York city, composed of three members 
representing the National Red Cross and the religious and business elements 
of the community. 

Coincidentally with these declarations, the new Government of Spain con- 
tinued to complete the policy already begun by its predecessor of testifying 
friendly regard for this nation by releasing American citizens held under one 
charge or another connected with the insurrection, so that, by the end of No- 
vember, not a single person entitled in any way to our national protection 
remained in a Spanish prison. 

The war in Cuba is of such a nature that short of subjugation or extermi- 
nation a final military victory for either side seems impracticable. The alter- 
native lies in the physical exhaustion of the one or the other party, or perhaps 
of both — a condition which in effect ended the Ten Years' War by the truce of 
Zanjon. The prospect of such a protraction and conclusion of the present 
strife is a contingency hardly to be contemplated with equanimity by the civ- 
ilized world, and least of all by the United States, affectt^d and injured as we 
are, deeply and intinuitely by its very existence. 

Realizing this, it appeared to be my duty in a spirit of true friendliness, 
no less to Spain than to the Cubans who have so much to lose by the prolon- 
gation of the struggle, to seek to bring about an immediate termination of the 
war. To this end I submitted on the 27th ultimo, as a result of much represen- 
tation and correspondence through the United States Minister at Madrid, 
propositions to the Spanish Government looking to an armistice until October 
1, for the negotiation of peace with the good offices of the President. 

The President's Proposition to Spain. 

In addition I asked the immediate revocation of the order of reconcen- 
tration so as to permit the people to return to their farms and the needy to 
be relieved with provisions and supplies from the United States, co-operating 
with the Spanish authorities so as to afford full relief. 

The reply of the Spanish Cabinet was received on the night of the 31st 
ultimo. It offers as the means to bring about peace in Cuba, to confide the 



2(J8 PRESIDENT McKINLEY ACTS. 

pit'liaialiuu tliriL'ot' to tlif Insular i'arliaiiiciil, iiiasiinnh as the Loncuiifuce 
of that lioily would be neressarv to ivaili a tinal result, it being, howevei-, un- 
derstood tliat the powers reserved by the Constitution to the eentral }i;overn- 
ment are not lessened or diminished. As the Cuban rarliaiuent does not meet 
until the 4th of May next, the Spanish (Jovernmenl would not object, for its 
l)art, to aceei)t at onee a susj)eusion of hostilities if aske<l for by the insur};ents 
from the General-in-Chief, to whom it would i>ertain in surh a ease to (b-ter- 
mine the duration and conditions of the armistice. 

The propositions submitted by (Jeneral Woodford and the vv\>\\ of the 
Spanish ( Jovernment were both in the form of brief memoranda, the texts of 
which are before ine, and are substantially in the lanjfuajte above given. 

Tliore remain the alternative forms of intervention to end the war, either 
as an impartial neutral by imjjosing a rational comiiromise between th(> con- 
testants, or as the active ally of tme i)arty or the otlu-r. 

As to the first, it is not to be foigolten tliat during the last few months 
the relation of the Ignited States has virtually been one of fi'iendly interven- 
tion in many ways, each not of itself conclusivi', but all tending <o the exertion 
of a potential inlluence toward an ultimate jiacific result just and honorable to 
all interests concerned. The sjiirit of all our acts hitherto has been an ear- 
nest, unseltish desire for peace and prosjierity in Cuba, untarnished by differ- 
ences betwi'cn us and Spain and unstain<'d by the blood of American citizens. 

The forcible intervention of the I'nited States as a neutral, to sto]) the 
war, according to the large dictat<'s of humanity and following many historical 
precedents where neighboring States have intei-fered to check the hopeless 
sacrifices of life by internecine conflicts beyond their borders, is justifiable on 
rational gi'ounds. It involves, however, hostile constraint upon both the par- 
ties t(t (he contest, as well to ciiforre a truce as to gnifle the eventual settle- 
, ment. 

Grounds for Intervention. 

The grounds for such iiiter\cnlinn iiia\ be inielly sniiimarizcd as follows: 

First. In the cause of humanil,\ and In pul an end to the barbarities, 
bloodshed, starvation and horrible misiiiis nnw existing tlKM'c, and which 
the parties to the conflict are either unalilc to or unwilling to stop or mitigate. 
It is no answer to .say this is all in another country, belonging to another 
nation, and is therefore none of our business. It is sjiecially our duty, for it 
is right at our dooi'. 

Second. We owi' it to our citizens in Cuba to alTonl them tliat i)rote(tion 
and indemnity for life and pro|)erty which no government there can or will 
afford, and to that end to terminate the conditions that deprive them of legal 
protection. 

Third. The right to intervene may be justified by the very serious injury 



PRESIDENT McKINLEY ACTS. 269 

to the commerce, trade aud business of our people, and by the wanton destruc- 
tion of property and devastation of the isUmd. 

Fourth. Aid which is of the utmost importance. The present condition 
of affairs in Cuba is a constant menace to our peace and entails upon this 
Government an enormous expense. With such a conflict waged for years in an 
island so near us, and with which our people have such trade and business 
relations; when the lives and liberty of our citizens are in constant danger and 
their property destroyed and themselves ruined; where our trading vessels 
are liable to seizure and are seized at our very door by warships of a foreign 
nation, the expeditions of filibustering that Ave are powerless altogether to 
prevent, and the irritating questions and entanglements thus arising — all 
these and others that I need not mention, with the resulting strained rela- 
tions, are a constant menace to our peace and compel us to keep ou a semi-war 
footing with a nation with which we are at peace. 

The Destruction of the Maine. 

These elements of danger and disorder already pointed out have been 
strikingly illustrated by a tragic event which has deeply and justly moved the 
American people. I have already transmitted to Congress the report of the 
Naval Court of Inquiry on the destruction of the battleship Maine in the har- 
bor of Havana during the night of the loth of February. The destruction of 
that noble vessel has filled the national heart with inexpressible horror. Two 
hundred and flf ty-eight brave sailors and marines and two officers of our navy, 
reposing in the fancied security of a friendly harbor, have been hurled to 
death, grief and want brought to their homes and sorrow to the nation. 

The Naval Court of Inquiry, which, it is needless to say, commands the 
unqualified confidence of the Government, was unanimous in its conclusions 
that the destruction of the Maine was caused by an exterior explosion — that 
of a submarine mine. It did not assume to place the responsibility. That 
remains to be fixed. 

In any event the destruction of the Maine, by whatever exterior cause, 
is a patent and impressive proof of a state of things in Cuba that is intolerable. 
That condition is thus shown to be such that the Spanish Government cannot 
assure safety and security to a vessel of the American navy in the harbor of 
Havana on a mission of peace and rightfully there. 

Further referring in this connection to recent diplomatic correspondence, 
a despatch from our Minister to Spain, of the 2Gth ultimo, contained the state- 
ment that the Spanish :Minister for Foreign Affairs assured him positively 
that Spain would do all that the highest honor and justice required in the 
matter of the Maine. The reply above referred to of the 31st ultimo also con- 
tained an expression of the readiness of Si)ain to submit to an arbitration 
all the differences which can arise in this matter, which is subsequently ex- 



270 J'1:KSI1)E>'T McKlNLEY ACTS. 

lilaiiud by (lie iHitc of tlir Sjciuish Minister at Wasshiugton of tlu- lOtli instant 
as follows: 

As to the question of fact wliich sprinfis from the diversity of views be- 
tween the report of the American and Spanish boards, Spain proposes that the 
fact be ascertained by an impartial investigation by experts, whose decision 
Spain accepts in advance. To this I have made no reply. 

In view of these facts and these considerations, I ask the Congress to 
authorize and empower the President to take measures to secure a full and 
final termination of hostilities between the Government of Si)ain and the peo- 
ple of Cuba, and to secure in the island the establishment of a stable govern- 
ment capable of maintaining order and observing its international obliga- 
tions, insuring peace and tranquillity and the security of its citizens as well as 
our own, and to use the military and naval forces of the United States as may 
be ue<"essary for these purposes. 

And in the interest of humanity and to aid in preserving the lives of the 
starving people of the island, I recommend that the distribution of food and 
supplies be continued, and that an approjtriaticm be made out of the i)ublic 
treasury to supplement the charity of our citizens. The issue is now with Con- 
gress. It is a solemn responsibility. I have exhausted every effort to relieve 
the intolerable condition of affairs whicli is at our doors. 

rrei)ared to execute every obligation imjwsed upon me by the Constitu- 
tion and the law, 1 await your action. 

The Addenda. 

Yesterday, and since the prejiaration of the foregoing message, otilcial in- 
formation was ix'ceivcd by me that the latest decree of the Queen Iicg'-nt of 
Spain directs General Klanco in order to pi'cpai'e and facilitate peace, to pro- 
claim a susi)ension of hostilities, the duration and details of which have not 
3'et been communicated to me. This fact, with every other i)ertinent considera- 
tion, will, I am sure, have your just and careful attention in the solemn de- 
liberations upon which you are about to enter. If this measure attains a suc- 
cessful result, then our asjiirations as a Christian, ])eaceloving peojile will 
be realized. If it fails, it will be only another jnslilication for our c<inteni- 
plated action. 

(Signed.) \VILM.\.M .M.KINLEY. 

Executive Mansion, Ajiril 11, ISilS. 



CHAPTER XXXVIII. 

STRENGTH OF THE OPPOSING SQUADRONS AND ARMIES. 

Growth of the White Squadrou in a Single Decade — Progress of Our Navy a 
Gratifying One after It Was Fairly Started — How the United States 
Stands in Comparison with the Other Nations of the World — List of 
Ships in the American Navy — List of Ships in the Navy of Spain at 
the Beginning of the War — Interest of All Countries Centered on the 
Result of Our Naval Rattles — Modern Guns and Projectiles — The 
Armies of the Two Combatants — Coast Defenses of the United States. 

Three elements enter into the fighting efticiency of nations at war: 
the strength of their navies, the strength of their armies and ttie con- 
dition of their coast defences. For the first time in many years gen- 
eral attention of the people of the United States was centered upon 
these conditions w'hen the outbreak of hostilities began to thi'eaten. 
Inasmuch as it was an admitted fact that most of the fighting would 
be done at sea, or at least that the efficiency of our fleets would be the 
most important factor, most of the atteution was directed to a study 
of the navy. 

The constructions of what we call the new navy of the United 
States, "the white squadron," which has placed us sixth in the rank 
of the naval powers of the world, instead of so far down that we were 
scarcely to be counted at all, has all been done in less than twelve 
years. It may be that to stand sixth in rank is not yet high enough, 
but the progress of a single decade certainly is remarkable. 

After the C^ivil War, when hostilities on our own coast and com- 
plications abroad seemed to be at an end, the care of the navy was 
abandoned and ships were sold wdth scarcely a protest, almost as en- 
tirely as had been done eighty years before, at the end of the Revolu- 
tion. There was even less reason for this policy, because in 1785 the 
country was poor and needed the money the ships brought, while in 
the twenty years following the Civil W^ar there was no such excuse of 
national poverty. By 1885 there was no United States navy at all 
worthy the name, for the wooden vessels on the list, with their obso- 
lete guns, were of no value whatever in the event of hostilities with a 

271 



STRENGTH OF OPPOSING SQUADRONS AND ARJIIES. X,'?? 

plate were learuiug their craft too, so that progress was aloug paral- 
lel lines. In 188G the sum of |2,128,000 was appropriated for modem 
rifled guns. The first contract for armor-plate was signed in 1887. 
Since that time the plants for constructiou have been completed and 
armor-plate equal to the best in the world turned out from them. Ten 
years of apprenticeship have taught us how to build whatever we need 
to carry on naval warfare. 

Takes the Rank of Sixth. 

By 1894 the United States had risen to the sixth among the naval 
powers of the world, the first ten and their relative strength expressed 
in percentage of that of Great Britain being as follows: 

Great Britain 100 United States 17 

France 68 Spain 11 

Italy 48 China 

Russia ;38 Austria 5 

Germany 21 Turkey 3 

Since that time the relative position of the leaders has not mate- 
rially changed, although some estimates are to the effect that Russia 
and Italy have changed places and that Spain has gained slightly on 
the United States. Of the ones at the foot of the procession all have 
dropped below the station assigned thcm, by the advance of Japan, 
which has come from outside the file of the first ten and is now eighth, 
ranking between Spain and China. The estimates are based on a cal- 
culation of all the elements that enter into the efficiency of the navies, 
such as tonnage, speed, armor, caliber and rainge of armament, num- 
ber of enlisted men and their efficiency. Such calculations cannot be 
absolute, for they cannot measure at all times the accuracy of the gun- 
nery of a certain vessel. The human equation enters so prominently 
into w^arfare tliat mathematical calculations must be at all times in- 
complete. Americans will be slow to believe, however, that they are 
at any disadvantage in this detail, whatever their material equipment 
may be. 

The following table shows the streng-lh of the navy of the United 
States. In that pai-t of the table marked "first rate" the four ships 
placed first are first-class battle ships, the Brooklyn and New York 
are armored cruisers, the Columbia, Olympia and Minneapolis pro- 



•J74 SI'i;i;.\(iTll OF (M'l'OSIXd S(,»rAI>K(»NS AX1» Ai;.Mii:s. 

ti'ctiMl ( Tiiisi-i's, the Texas a seroad-class bat lie .slii|t and I lie I'liritan 
a doubk'-turrt't monitor. Ainoiin the si'coiul-rati'rs all but the Miaii- 
(oiioniah, Ampbitrite, Monadnovk and Tenor (monitors) are proleited 
truisers. The uewly bouglit boats, New Orleans and Alban.v, bcliini; 
in this ilass. The third-raters are a heterogeueoiis lot, cousisling of 
cruisers, <;uuboats, old monitors and unprotected oruisei's. Of the 
fourth raters, Vesuvius is a dvnamite ship, the Yankee and Michij;au 
are eruisers, the Teti-el, Bancroft aud I'inta are gunboats and the Fern 
is a transjiort. The remaining elasses of the table are homogeneous. 
The government has reeeUtly purchased numerous tugs and yachts 
not accounted for in llie tai)le: 



FIKST KATE. 

Displace- Guns in 
NAME. ment (tons), main battery. 

lowiv 11,:U0 IS 

Indiana KM'SS IC 

Jlassacliu.sells lO.l'SS Ki 

Ore^'on lO.li.SS 1(1 

Hi-ooklyn !».l.'l." L'O 

New York S.-JOO is 

( 'oliiniliia 7,;i7.1 1 1 

.Miiine;i])i)lis 7,."{75 11 

Texas C,:!!.-) S 

I'lirilan (i.(l<;0 10 

()lyni|.ia r),S7() 11 



SECOND HATE. 

Cliicafro l.-'0(» 1 S 

Maltiniore l.li:: !<• 

I"liiladcl|.lda l-'f^l 1- 

.Mfinterey 4.(tS I 4 

Newark" -l.OOs lU 

Kan Francisco l.uns 12 

Charleston :!.7:!0 8 

.MiantoniMnah :!,!»!>(» 4 

Aniphilrite :!.!»ltO G 

Mona.lnock XiWO G 



Indicated 




horse power. 


Hull. 


12,1 on 


steel 


0,7:58 


Steel 


i(»,4o:{ 


Steel 


11,111 


Steel 


is,7(;i) 


Steel 


17,401 


Steel 


is,.-)(m 


Steel 


20,S(;2 


Steel 


s.c.io 


Steel 


:!.7()0 


Iron 


i7.:!i:{ 


Steel 



9.000 


steel 


10.0(14 


Steel 


.s,si.-, 


Steel 


.".,244 


Steel 


8,8(1;) 


Steel 


•),!ti:{ 


Steel 


r,,m(\ 


Steel 


1,42G 


Ii-on 


l.GOO 


Iron 


3,000 


Iron 



STKE^'LiTH OF UlTUSkNU .SC^rADia )NS 

Displace- Guns in 

NAME. ment (tons), main battery, 

Tervor :?,!)90 4 

Lauiaster 8,250 12 

Cincinnati 3,213 11 

Kaleigb 3,213 11 

Atlanta 3,000 8 

Boston 3,000 8 

THIRD RATE. 

Hartford 2,790 13 

Katahdin 2,155 4 

Ajax 2,100 2 

Canonifus 2,100 2 

Mahopac 2,100 2 

Manhattan 2,100 2 

Wyandotte 2,100 2 

Detroit 2,089 10 

llontsomery 2,089 10 

Marbleliead 2,089 10 

Mariitn 1,900 S 

Moliiean 1,900 10 

Conuuulie 1,875 2 

Catsldll 1,875 2 

Jason 1,875 2 

Lehijjli 1,875 2 

Moutanli 1,875 2 

Nahaut 1,875 2 

Nantucliet 1,875 2 

Passaic 1,875 2 

Bennington 1,710 G 

Concord 1,710 6 

Yorlitown 1,710 G 

Dolpliin 1,486 2 

Wilmington 1,392 8 

Helena 1,392 8 

Adams 1,375 6 

Alliance 1,375 6 

Essex 1,375 6 

Enterprise 1,375 4 

Nashville 1,371 8 

Monocacy 1,370 6 

Thetis 1,250 



AND ARMIES. 



Indicated 




oise power. 


Hull. 


i,(;oo 


Iron 


1,000 


Wood 


10,000 


Steel 


10,000 


Steel 


4,030 


Steel 


4,030 


Steel 



2,000 


Wood 


5,068 


Steel 


340 


Iron 


340 


Iron 


340 


Iron 


340 


Iron 


340 


Iron 


5,227 


Steel 


5,580 


Steel 


5,451 


Steel 


1,10b 


Wood 


1,100 


Wood 


340 


Iron 


340 


Iron 


340 


Iron 


340 


Iron 


340 


Iron 


340 


Iron 


340 


Iron 


340 


Iron 


3,436 


Steel 


3,405 


Steel 


3,.392 


Steel 


2,253 


Steel 


1,894 


Steel 


1,988 


Steel 


800 


Wood 


800 


Wood 


800 


Wood 


800 


Wood 


2,536 


Steel 


850 


Iron 


530 


Wood 



;:;>j sTiM:x<;Tn of oi-i'osixi; si^tadkoxs and ai{.mii;s. 

Displace- Guns in Indicated 

NAME. ment (tons), main battery. horse power. Hull. 

rastiin- 1,177 8 2,1!)!) Stwl 

Macliias 1.177 8 2,0-tG Sttt-l 

Alerl l.OL'O li 500 Iron 

Uiiii-:.'!' l.OliO G 500 Iron 

Aiinajiolis 1,000 « l,l.'27 Conip 

Vi(k.«<l.ury; ],000 1,118 Comp 

Whrt'liiiK 1.(100 1,081 Comp 

Mariclla 1.000 G 1,054 Coiup 

>'i'wl)ort 1.000 G 1,008 Comp 

FOURTH KATE. 

A'csuviiis 920 ;{ 3,705 Steel 

Yautic !)00 4 :no Wood 

IVtrel 8!»2 4 1,005 Steel 

Fern 840 .. Wood 

Hancpoft 839 4 1,213 Steel 

Miiliipin G85 4 3G5 Iron 

Piiita 550 2 310 Iron 

TOKPKDO HOATS. 

1— Ciisliinf,' 105 3 1,720 Steel 

2 — Ei-ii-sson 120 .3 l.SOO Steel 

3— Foote U2 .3 2,000 Steel 

4— Hodj;ers 142 3 2.000 Steel 

5— Wiiislow 142 3 2.000 Steel 

G — roller 3 Steel 

7 — 1)11 Toiil 3 Steel 

H— ]{()\vaii 1S2 3 3,200 Steel 

9— Daiil-iicii MG 2 4,200 Steel 

10— T. A. -M. ( 'raven 1 IG 2 4.200 Steel 

1 1— FarraKiil 27:'. 2 5.G00 Steel 

12— Davis 132 3 1,750 Steel 

13— Fox 132 3 1,750 Steel 

14— Mollis 103 3 1,750 Steel 

15- Tall.ol 4GJ 2 850 Steel 

IG— Cwin 4GJ 2 850 Steel 

17— Markenzi." 65 2 850 Steel 

IH— McK.-e 65 2 850 Steel 

1!»— StiiiiKliani 340 2 7.200 Steel 

20— ColdslM.nniKli 2474 2 Steel 

21— Haile.v 235 2 5,600 Steel 

Slil.K.) 31 2 359 Wood 



STRENCJTH OF OProSING .SQUADRONS AND AHMIEK 277 



NAME. 
Fortune . 
Iwaua . . 
Leyden . 
Narkeeta 
Nina .... 
Rocket . . 
iStandish . 
Traffic . . 
Triton . . . 
AVaneta . 
Uuadilla 
Samoset . 



TUGBOATS. 



Displace- 
ment (tons). 

450 

l'J2 

450 

192 

357 

187 

450 

280 

212 

192 

345 



Guns in 
main battery. 



:,zo 



Indicated 
horse power. 

:U() 

300 
340 
300 
388 
147 
340 

300 
300 
500 
450 



Hull. 

Iron 
Steel 

Iron 
Steel 

Iron 
Wood 

Iron 
Wood 
Steel 
Steel 
Steel 
Steel 



SAILING SHIPS. 



Monongahela 2,100 

Constellation 1,180 

Jamestown 1,150 

Portsmouth 1,125 

Saratoga 1,025 

St. Mary's 1,025 



12 



Wood 
Wood 
Wood 
Wood 
Wood 
Wood 



RECEIVING SHIPS. 



Franklin 5,170 

Wabash 4,050 

Vermont 4,150 

Indeijendence 3,270 

Richmond 2,700 



1,050 


Wood 


950 


Wood 




Wortd 




AVood 


092 


^^'ood 



UNSERVICEABLE. 



New Hampshire 4,1,50 

Pensacola :i,0()0 

Omaha 2,400 

Constitution 2,200 

Iroquois 1,575 

Nipsic 1,375 

St. Louis 830 

liale 075 

Minnesota 4,700 








Wood 




080 


Wood 




953 


^^'ood 


4 




Wood 




1,202 


Wood 


4 


839 


Wood 
Wood 
Wood 


9 


1,000 


Wood 



STRENGTH OF OITOHING SQUADKONS AND ARMIES. 



UNDER CONSTRUCTION. 

Displace- Guns in 

NAME. ment (tons), main battery. 

Kt'iir.sai'fie ll,r)L'.5 22 

Kciituck.v 11,525 22 

lllinoi.s 11,52.'5 18 

Alabaiuii 11,525 18 

Wisconsin 11,525 18 

Princeton 1,000 6 

IMungtT 108 2 

Tug No. 225 

Tug No. 7 225 

Training ship 1,175 6 



Indicated 




horse power. 


Hull. 


10,000 


Stei'l 


10,000 


Steel 


10,000 


Steel 


10,000 


Steel 


10,000 


Steel 


800 


Couip 


1,200 


Steel 


450 


Steel 


450 


Steel 




Conip 



Spain's Navy Is a Weaker One. 

Spain's uavy is decidcdlv Axcak wlicn ((HiipartMl wiili tliat nf ihe 
T'nitt'd States. A mere <;ian(e at the two tables will be sutlicicut to 
show the dilTeronee. Spain's list of unaniiorod eniisers is lonji, but four 
of our battle ships or swift, modern, armored cruisers could blow the 
lot out of the water. In t(ii])edo boats we compare favorably witli 
Siiaiu. In one resiK'ct Sj)ain is stron<j,er, that is in her si.x sjieedy tor- 
]iedo boat de.st rovers. This table accounts for every war shij) S]>ain 
has, lo say iiothin<,' of tlie few anticjue merchantincii of Ihe Sjianish 
liner company which can be turned into cruisers. 



KIHST-CLASS I'.ATTI.K SHIl'S. 

Speed in 

Gunii in knots 

NAME. Tonnage. batteries. per hour. 

I'ehiyo !».'I00 22 1 7.0 

Vitoria lincllicicnt) 7,2."iO . . I l.u 

()I.1» ItA'ITI.I': SUN'S. 

Nimiaiicia 7.2.")(l 10 11.0 

FIKSTCI.ASS AKMOKKD ( 'IMISKKS. 

<"arIos V !l.2.!."'. 2S 20.0 

< 'isniTos 7,000 24 20.0 

Catuluna 7,000 24 20.0 



Hull. 
SIrcl 

Iron 



Iron 



Steel 
Steel 
Steel 



STRENGTH OF OPPOSING SQUADRONS AND ARMIES. 



■Z7d 



NAME. Tonnage. 

Princess Asturias 7,000 

Almirante Oqucudo 7,000 

Maria Teresa 7,000 

Vizcaya 7,000 

Cristobal Colon 0,840 



Guns in 
batteries. 

24 

.{0 

:•,() 
40 



Speed in 

knots 
per liour. 

20.0 

20.0 

20.0 

20.0 

20.0 



SECOND-CLASS ARMORED CRI^ISERS. 

Alfonso XIII 5,000 19 20.0 

Lepanto 4,826 2.j 20.0 



UNARMORED CRUISERS. 

Reina Christina 3,520 21 

Aragon 3,342 24 

Cariilla 3,342 22 

Navarra 3,342 

Alfonso XII 3,090 

Reina Mercedes 3,090 

^•elasco 1,152 

C. de Venadito 1,130 

UUoa 1,130 

Anstria 1.130 

Isabel 1.130 

Isabel II : 1,130 

Isla de Cuba 1,030 

Isla de Luzon 1,030 

Ensenada 1,030 

Quiros 315 

Villabolas 315 



10 
23 
21 
7 
13 
12 
12 
15 
If) 
12 
12 
13 



935 



* TORPEDO BOATS 

Alvaro de Bezau 830 

Maria Molina 830 

Destructor 458 

Filipinas 750 

Galicia 571 

Marcjues Vitoria 830 

Marques Molina 571 



17.5 
17.5 
17.5 
17.5 
17.5 
17.5 
14.3 
14.0 
14.0 
14.0 
14.0 
14.0 
Ifi.O 
10.0 
15.0 



20.0 
20.0 
20.0 
20.0 
20.0 
20.0 
20.0 



Hull. 
Steel 
Steel 
Steel 
Steel 
Steel 



Steel 
Steel 



Steel 
Steel 
Steel 
Steel 
Steel 
Steel 
Steel 
Steel 
Steel 
' Steel 
Steel 
Steel 
Steel 
Steel 
Steel 
Iron 
Iron 
Wood 



Steel 
Steel 
Steel 
Steel 
Steel 
Steel 
Steel 



Armed with two and four torpedo tubes, six quick fire and two machine 



guns. 



STHEXGTIJ OF OPPOSING SQUADRONS AND AKMIES. 



NAME. Tonnage. 

I'inzon 571 

Xuevii Espana (J'.W 

Rapido 570 

Ti'iiu'iario 5'JO 

YauL'z Piiizon 571 



Guns in 
batteries. 


Speed in 

Icnots 

per hour. 


Hull. 




20.0 


Steel 




20.0 


Steel 




20.0 


Steel 




20.0 


Steel 




20.0 


Steel 



lleriion Oortes . 

IMzarro 

Nunez Uallioa . . , 
Dieg^o "\'ela.s(juez 
Ponce de Leon. . . 

Alvai-ado 

Sandoval 



GUNBOATS. 

. . :500 

. . ;{oo 

. . ;ioo 

. . 200 

.. 200 

. . 100 

. . 100 



12.0 
12.0 
12.5 
12.0 
12.0 
12.0 
12.0 



400 


fi 


ao.o 


Steel 


:!so 


(! 


28.0 


Steel 


:!so 


G 


28.0 


Steel 


;{S0 





28.0 


Steel 


:;80 





28.0 


Steel 


;:so 


G 


28.0 


Steel 



TORPEDO I50AT DESTROYERS. 

Audaz 

Furor 

Tel Tor 

Osada 

J'luton 

Prosiierina :'.80 

S.M.M.l, TORPEDO J'.OATS. 



Ariete . . . 
Ivayo . . . . 
Azor .... 
Halcon .. 
Ilabana . 
Mancio .. 

Oiiiiii 

lii-taniosa 
Ordonez . 
I'^jercito . 
]'ol!u.\ . .. 
Castor . . . 
Aire 



Steel 
Steel 
Steel 
Steel 
Steel 
Steel 
Steel 



20.1 


Steel 


25.5 


Steel 


24.0 


Steel 


24.0 


Steel 


21.:! 


Steel 


i;t.5 


Steel 


21.5 


Steel 


20.5 


Steel 


20.1 


Steel 


10.1 


Steel 


10.5 


Steel 


1!).0 


Steel 


S.O 


Steel 



• Tlierc are ei{;litecn others of smaller size, wliiili willi llie aliove were 
built for service in Cuhan waters, and are now tliere. 



STEENGTH OF OPPOSING SQUADKONS AND ARMIES. 
GUN VESSELS (SO-CALLED). 



Guns in 
NAME. Tonnage. batteries. 

General Concha 520 

Elcano 524 

General Lego 524 

Magellanes 524 

BUILDING. 

(Battle ship.) 

10,000 

(Armored cruisers.) 

10,500 

Pedro d'Aragon 6,840 

(Protected cruisers.) 

Eeina Regeute 5,372 

Rio de la Plata 1,775 

(Torpedo boats.) 
Five of Ariete type and one of 750 tons. 

LINERS FOR CONVERSION. 



Magellanes 6,9.32 

Buenos Aires 5,195 

Montevideo 5,096 

Alfonso XII 5,063 

Leon XIII 4,687 

Satrustegui 4,638 

Alfonso XIII 4,381 

Maria Cristiua 4,381 

Luzon 4,252 

Mindanao 4,195 

Isla de Pana.y 3,636 

Cataluna 3,488 

City of Cadiz 3,084 



Speed in 
knots 
' l30ur. 



iSl 



Hull. 
Steel 
Steel 
Steel 
Steel 



Steel 



Steel 
Steel 



Steel 
Steel 



17.0 


Steel 


14.0 


Steel 


14.5 


Steel 


15.0 


Steel 


15.0 


Steel 


15.0 


Steel 


16.0 


Steel 


16.0 


Steel 


13.0 


Steel 


13.5 


Steel 


13.5 


Steel 


14.0 


Steel 


13.5 


Steel 



Interest in the Working of Modern War Ships. 

The puzzle that wa.s troubling every naval authority as well as 
every statesman in the civilized world, at the outbreak of the war be- 
tween the United States and Spain, was Avhat would be the resiilts 



,.\^2 STRENGTH OF OPrOiSINCJ SQUADKONS AND AIJ.MIES. 

of a c'ouflict at. sea between the floatiug fortresses which now serve as 
battle-ships. Since navies reached their modern form there had been 
no war in which the test of the battle-ship was complete. Lessons 
might be learned and opinions formed and prophesies made from the 
action of battle-ships in the war between China and Japan, the war 
between Chili and Pern, and from the disasters which had overtaken 
the Maine in the harbor of Havana and the Victoria in her collision 
with the Camperdown, as well as the wreck of the Kciua Kegeute and 
others. But in all these, combine the information as one miyht, there 
was insntlicieut testimony to prove what would haiijien if two powers 
of nearly equal streu<;th were to meet for a fight to a finish. 

AA'hatever was uncertain, it was known at least that there would 
be no more sea fights like those of the last ceiitnry and the first half 
of this, when three-deck frigates and seventy-four-gun men-of-war 
were lashed together, while their crews fought with small arms and 
cutlasses for hours. Those were the days when "hearts of oak" and 
"the wooden walls of England" made what romance there was in 
naval warfare, and tlie sliips of the young United States Avon respect 
on every sea. In the fights of those days the vessels would float till 
they were shot to pieces, and witli tlic stimulus of close fighting the 
men were ready to brave any odds in boanliug an enemy's craft. It 
was well understood that the cliauge<l ccmditious would make veiy 
different battles between the fighting madiines of to-day. 

That a na\al battle between niixlcrn ticets, armed with nindcrn 
guns, would be a tcn-ildy dcslniclivc ime botli to llic sliijis and In the 
l!\cs of those who niiuinrd (licin, was conceded by all lunal aulhoii- 
ties. The destrucliveness would come not only from liic 1i( incudous 
power and effect iven<'ss of the guns, but also from ilu- j'acl lliat the 
shell had re])laced the solid shot in all calibers down to the oue- 
jiounder, so that to the penetrating elTect of the projcvtile was a<lde<l 
its exjdosive jiower and the scattering of its fragments in a destruc- 
tive and death-dealing circle many feel in diameter. 

Modern Guns and Projectiles. 

Tlie modern armor-piercing shell, made of hardened steel, and with 
its conical ]>oint carefully fashioned for the greatest penetrating 
power, has all the armor-iiiercing effectiveness of a. solid .shot of the 
same shape, while its explosiveness makes it infinitely more destruc- 



STRENGTH OF OPPOSING SQUADRONS AND AKIID^S. S83 

tive. For the modern shell does not explode when it first strikes the 
side or armor of an enemy's ship, but after it has pierced the side or 
armor and has exhausted its penetrative effect. The percussion fuse 
is in the base of the shell, and is exploded by a plunger driven against 
it by the force of the impact of the shell on striking. The time be- 
tween the impact of the shell and its explosion is sufficient for it to 
have done its full peneti'ative work. 

It first must be understood that all modem guns on ships-of-war 
are breech-loading and rifled, and that the smooth bore exists only as 
a relic, or to be brought out in an emergency for coast defense, when 
modern guns are not available. From the thirteen-inch down to the 
four-inch, the guns ai'e designated by their caliber, the diameter of 
their bore, and the shot they throw, while from that to the one- 
pounder they talie their name from the weight of the shot. Every- 
thing below the one-pounder is in the machine-gun class. 

The base of rapid-fire work is the bringing together in one cart- 
ridge of the primei", powder, and shell. When the limit of weight of 
cartridge, easily handled by one man, is reached, the limit of rapid- 
fire action is also reached; and, although the quick-moving breech 
mechanisms have been applied abroad to guns of as large as eight- 
inch caliber, such gains would rank as quick, rather than rapid firing, 
and would require powder and shot to be loaded separately. 

On the modern battle-ships the function of the great guns is the 
penetration of the enemy's armor, either at the waterline belt or on 
the turrets and gun positions, while that of the rapid-firers is the de- 
struction of the uuarmored parts or the disabling of the guns not 
armor protected. The six, three, and oue-pouuders direct their rain of 
shots at the turret pox"tholes, gun shields, or unprotected parts of the 
ship, having also an eye to torpedo-boats, while from the fighting 
tops, the Catlings rain a. thousand shots a minute on any of the crew 
in exposed positions. With such a stonn of large and small projec- 
tiles it would seem to be rather a question of who would be left alive 
rather than who would be killed. 

The guns in use in the United States navy are the 13-inch, 12-inch, 
10-inch, 8-inch, 6-inch, 5-inch, 4-inch, G-pounders, 3-pounders, 1- 
pounder, Hotchkiss 37 mm. revolver cannon, and the machine guns. 
In the following table is given the length and weight of these guns, as 
well as of the shell they cari'y: 



284 STIIEXGTU OF orro.SJX'L; f^QL'ADICOXS AND AK.MIES. 

Length Powder Weight 

of gun, charge, of shell, 

GUNS. feet. pounds. pounds. 

< )IU' ijouiuk'i' 5.1 .3 1 

Thiei'-pouudiT 7..3 1.7 3 

Six-iiounder 8.9 :{.() G 

FdurU't'iiiiouiidcr 11.6 S.O 14 

Four-imli 13.7 14.0 33 

Fivi'-inch 17.4 30.0 .^)0 

Si.xincli 21.3 50.0 100 

Kinhtinth 28.7 115.0 250 

Tcu inch 31.2 240.0 500 

Twclvt'iiicli 30.8 425.0 850 

Thill. -i-ii-iudi 40.0 550.0 1,100 



How the Big Guns Are Used. 



Tlio 14-p<)un(k'r, altliDUgli not iiuliided iu llic iinvy ai-ni:iint'nt, is 
u'i\('ii for the puiqxj.se of i-oniparisou, .since it is with guns of this cali- 
hcr that some of the Spanish toriK'do-boat destroyers are armed. Tiie 
hirgest gun as yet mounted on our hirgest toi-pedo-boats is tlie 
(•pounder, while a single 1-pounder is the gun anuament of the or- 
dinaiy (orpedo-boat. The Ilotihkiss revolver caunon is not given iu 
tiic table becau.se its caliber, etc., is the same a.s that of the l-poundei", 
and, in fact, the latter has supei-seded it in the latest armaments, .so 
that it is now found only on the older ships of the modern fleet. The 
machine guns arc not given because their elTective work is practically 
the same. The (iatlini^ is of 4."» ( alilK'i-, and uses the j^oveniment am- 
munition for tile Spriiijitield i-iHe. 

A look over the table shows some general i)rincii)les in the matter 
of powder and shell used. The jMJwder <hariie is about half the weight 
of ihc slii'll, wjiile the leii^lli of I he sjicll is a little over lliris' times its 
diaiiielei'. 

'to attain its extreme i-aui^c a. iiuii must be ,ni\<'ii an elevaiiou of 
about lifteeii dej^HM's. The -greatest elevation uiveii any of the mius 
on shipltoard is about six degrees. This limit, is made by two factors 
— the size of the porllwdes or ojtcning in the turrets for the l;u'g<'r 
Runs, and the danger of driving the gun backward and downward 
tliroujih the deck by any greater elevation. The practical range of 
the great guns of a ship, the ten, twelve, and thirteen-inch, is not, 



STKENCTII OF Ol'I'OSlNG SQrAnHO^.S AXI) AJLMIES. 285 

therefore, believed to be over five or six miles, and even at that range 
the chances of hitting a given object would be very small. A city 
could, of course, be bombarded with effect at such a range, since a shell 
would do tremendous damage wherever it might sti'ike, but a city to 
which a ship could approach no nearer than say seven miles would 
be safe from bombardment. 

The muzzle velocities given the shells from the g-uns of the navy 
are something tremendous, while the muzzle energy is simply appall- 
ing. The shell from the thirteen-iuch gnn leaves the muzzle at a 
velocity of 2,100 feet a second, and with an energy of 33,G27-foot tons, 
or the power required to lift one ton one foot. From this velocity the 
range is to 1,800 feet a second in the one-pouuder, although from the 
three-pounder at 2,050 feet it averages about the same as the thirteen- 
inch. The five-inch rapid-fire gun has the greatest muzzle velocity at 
2,250 feet. The muzzle energy is, of course, small in the smaller guns, 
being only twenty-five-foot tons in the o-ne-pounder and 500 tons in 
the fourteen-pounder. 

The power of penetration has already been given in a general way, 
but the power of peneti-ation of steel is much greater. At its muzzle 
velocity the thirteen-inch shell will penetra'te 2(i.GG inches of steel, the 
twelve-inch, 21.16 inches; the ten-inch, 20 inches, and the five-inch, 9 
inches. The one-pound shell bursts in piercing one-fourth and nine- 
sixteentbs-inch plates, scatteinng its fragments behind the target. 

It may be interesting to note that the cost of one discharge of a 
thirteen-inch gun is $800, and that when a battle-ship like the Massa- 
chusetts lets loose her entire battei-y, both main and secondary, the 
cost of a single discharge is $6,000. 



CHAPTER XXXIX. 

r,ATTLE81Ill'S AND TlJOOl'S HKCIN TO MOVE. 

The >s"()rth Allaii(ic- Siiimdrou Sent to Key WesI — CoiniiiodDri' Schley at 
Hamilton Hoads — The \'oya}^e of the ()ref;oii — The Caiuji at Chii-ka- 
niaufia — Wliere the Initial Work of Mohilizinj; the Troops Was Done — 
Life at Camp Thomas — ]Jfe on the Famous Hal tie I'ield — Kendezvous 
at Fort Tamjia— The Great Artillery ("amp. 

Iininediately fdllowiiij;' the action of Coiijircss aiitliorizini; the ['res- 
ident to call into service the army and uavj- of the United States, the 
North Atlantic squadron, under command of Captain Sampson, was 
mobilized at Key West. It consisted of the following: vessels: Battle- 
ships Iowa and Indiana, armored cruiser New York, the monitors Puri- 
tan, Terror and Amphitrite, the" gunboats Nashville, Castine, Machias, 
^A'ilminJi■t(ln and Helena, the cruisers Detroit, Cincinnati and Marble- 
head, and the torpedo-boats Cushin<>-, Ericsson, Dtipont, Foote, Winslow, 
Porter and Mayliower. 

These coui])rised a hard lii^htin^- a^.^reyation under a cool and dar- 
inji tighter. The two tirst-class battleshi]»s wer(> not ecjualed in hghting 
power by anythinji in the Sitanish navy, and the New York wa.s one of 
the best tighting sliijis of her kind in the world. 

Commodore \\inlield Scott Schley and the lighters of his Hyiug 
squadron were gathered at Hampton Koads, imjiatient for ordei-s from 
Washington to face the foi-. Far away in Pacific waters Commodore 
Dewey was cabled the command to hold himself in readiness to j)r()ceed 
to Manila, and the good ship Oregon, under cnnimand of <'a])tain (larke, 
was steaming her way around Cajw Horn to juin the Heel in Cuban 
waters. 

In the army equal activity was shown. 

The Camp at Chickamauga. 

("Iiickamanga I'ark, near Chattanooga, Tenn., was the point of con- 
centration for tiie regular troops which were gathered for the war with 
Spain. It was the initial camp where the mobilization took place, and 

286 



BATTLESHIPS AND TKOOI'S IJEdlN TO .MOVE. 287 

from which yokliers ;iiul sufiplies were disi)iit<he(l to seacoast towns 
within easy stiikiug distance of Cuba, When orders went out from 
arm}- headrjuarters at Washington for the movement of the regulars 
to Chicliamauga a thrill of soldierly pride swelled the breast of eveiy 
man who wore Uncle team's blue uniform, and there was a hasty dash for 
the new camp. There is nothing an army man, officer or private, dis- 
likes so much as inactivity. Fighting, especially against a foreign foe, 
suits him better than dawdling away his time in idleness, and word to 
"get to the front" is always welcome. 

For nearly three weeks troops poured into ("hickamauga on eveiy 
train. They came from all parts of the country, and from every regi- 
ment and branch of the service. There were "dough-boys" and cavalry- 
men, engineers and artillerymen; some regiments were there in force, 
others were represented by detachments only. There Avere companies 
and parts of companies, squadrons and parts of squadrons, batteries and 
parts of batteries. It was a bringing together of Uncle Sam's soldier 
boys from all conceivable sections of the country. They came from 
posts in California and Texas, from Wyoming and Maine, from Colo- 
rado and Minnesota. In time of peace the regular army is badly scat- 
tered. It is seldom that an entire regiment is stationed at one post, the 
companies being distributed over a wide area of territory. A mobili- 
zation, therefore, like that at Cliickamauga, tended to consolidate and 
put new life into commands which had been badly dismembered by the 
exigencies of the service. Old comrades were brought together and there 
was a sort of general reunion and glorification. Men who had been 
doing police duty near big cities met those who had been watching In- 
dians on the plains, or chasing gTeaser bandits on the border line. They 
exchanged stories and prepared for the stern realities of war with a 
vigor which boded ill for the foe they were to face. 

Uncle Sam's soldier is a p'eat grumbler when in idleness. lie finds 
fault with bis officers, his food, bis quarters, his clothing, his pay, and 
even with himself. Nothing pleases him. He records big, sonorous 
oaths about his idiocy in swearing away his liberty for a term of years. 
But let the alarm of war sound, show him active preparations for a 
scrimmage with the enemy, and the "regular" is happy. This was the 
condition which prevailed at Chickamauga. Tlie men were full of en- 
thusiasm and worked as hard as the proverbial beavers. Drills once 
distasteful and shirked whenever possible were gone through with alac- 
rity and the "boy in blue" was a true soldier, every inch of him. There 
was war in sight. 



libs IJATTI.KSllirs AMD TlidOl'S I'.KdlN To .MOVE. 



Life at Camp Thomas. 

On (iiic |Miiiit ;il IciisI Ilici-c \v;i.'< ;iii airnnl (if (i|iini<iii in rank and 
file — the* camp was well naniiMl. "Canij) (icor;,'!' II. Tluinias" tlu-y calli'd 
it, in lut'inory of old "I*a]>," tlie Iuto of (Miickauiau^M, aud lueu and 
otiiccis alike t(Kd< a very visible jiilde in beinj^ resident.s of the tented 
city. The establishment of the conimnnity at Camp Thomas was mnch 
like the establishment of a colony in an nu.settled land, in so far as do- 
mestic conveniences were concernetl. Everytliinji had to be taken there, 
aud each rej^iment, which was a small canvas town in itself, had to do- 
jH-nd entirely ui)on its own resources. Dotted here and there throuph- 
oiit the entire expanse of the lifteen-niile reservation, these cities of 
tents were .seen, aJid the brave men who lived in them depended \ipon 
themselves and each other for what little entertainment they <:;ot. A 
description of the (piarters of one oflicer will serve for all. An "A,'' or 
wall tent, 1(1 by 12 feet, and some of them a size smaller, was his house. 
On one side a foldin;;; camp cot, with a thin yet comfortable mattress 
and an abundance of heavy, woolen army blankets. A table about 
twenty inches sfpiare, with le;:;s that fold up into the sniaHest po.ssiblo 
s|)ace, stood near the door at the foot (»f the cot. A foldin;,' chair or two 
for his visitors, a larj^e valise or a very small trunk, a bit of lookinji 
<,da.ss hanjiinj,' from a tent pole, a tubular lantern, or, if the tenant of 
the lent was not so forlunate as to possess such a UKideru li;ihi, then a 
candle attached to a slick in the uround beside his bed. Tie striujis 
allaclied to the rear wall of the tent alTorded a hanjiin;.; jilace for "his 
other shirt" and a jtaii" of extra shoes. His le}ij;in^s and boots were on 
Ids feet, and his bell, pistol and saber stood in a corner. A jtad of wi-it- 
in;: paper, jiocket inkstaml, a razoi- stro]), unless he had foresworn shav- 
in;;, a briar or corn-c<di iiipe, ami a baj^ of tobacco comi)leled the furnish- 
in;;s of his house. ('omnian<liuj^ odicers, at rejiimeutal lica(l(|uar(ers, 
had an extra roof, <>y "lent lly," as an awninj,^ in front of liicir (piaitei's, 
but othei'wise lived as (dlicr oHicei-s did. 

The eidisled men, (|uai1ercd in (lie ninical wall Ii'Uls now a(lo))ted 
by the army, bunked with heads to (he wall and (icl toward the center, 
from nine to twelve in a (cut. Their be«Idiu.u; nnd lihiiikets were pood 
ami tlii'V wcicas rnmrnrlalile as soldiei's cruild lin|ir id he in iIh' tidd. 
Some of ( lie ic;,nmen(s from (he reuutte Northwest had t he Sibley conical 
(en(, whi<h has nu wall, but which has a small sheet iron stove. These 




BLANCO — GOVERNOR-GENERAL OF CUBA 

Generally known as the softest-hearted soldier in Spain 



BATTLESHIPS AND TROOPS BEGIN TO .MOVE. 289 

were more than appreciated during tlie cold, rainy weatlier that pre- 
vailed at Camp Thomas. 

The mess tents and cookhouses are about alike in all the arms of 
the service. The "cuddy-bunk" oven, made of sheet iron, bakes well and 
looks like two iron pans fastened together, one upon the top of the other. 
Men detailed as cooks and waiters, or "kitchen police," as they ai*e de- 
nominated in the posts, attended to the preparation and serving of the 
meals, and the soldiers lived well, indeed. Field rations were used when 
in transit from point to point, but when in camp the company or troop 
mess purchased fresh meats, vegetables, eggs, fruits, etc., and lived high. 

Rendezvous at Port Tampa. 

Twenty-eight batteries of artillery, almost the entire complement of 
this branch of the United States army, were in camp at Port Tampa, 
Fla., awaiting orders to make a descent upon the Spanish forces in 
Cuba. This great gathering of artillery was the feature of the camp. 
Infantr^^ and cavalry troops were held there also, and their number in- 
creased ever^' day, but it was in the artillery that the civilian spectators 
took the most interest. This may be said without disparagement of 
the "dough boys" and "hostlers," notwithstanding the fact that there 
were some of Uncle Sam's most famous fighters in both lines of service 
stationed at Tampa, among them being the Ninth cavalry, and the 
Fourth, Fifth, Ninth, Thirteenth and Twenty-fourth infantry. No cav- 
alry regiment has a finer record than the Ninth, the "buffalo" troopers, 
who gave the Sioux and Apaches more fighting than they wanted, but 
Southern people have no use for negro soldiers, and their laudations 
went to the white artillerymen. 

No such aggregation of light and heavy artillery has been gathered 
before at any one city in the United States, even in wartime. 

Life in camp at. Tampa was much the same as at Chickamauga, ex- 
cept that the weather was much hotter. To offset this, however, the 
boys had fine sea bathing, good opportunities for sailing parties, and the 
best of fresh fish with which to leaven their rations of salt horse and 
hardtack. It is astonishing how quickly a man learns to forage and cook 
after joining the regular army. Three months of seiwice will transform 
the greenest of counter-jumpers into an expert in the art of enticing- 
chickens from their coops and turning them into savorj' stews. One of 
the troopers of the Ninth cavalry was called "Chickens," from his pre- 
dilections in this line. There were orders against foraging, of course; 



•20O JIATTLESllirs AM) TKOOPS I5E(i].\ TO .MOVE. 

tlicrc ahvay.s arc iu fricudly territory, but they never aiiiouni to iinicli. 
Tlie officers knew tliey were disobeyed, but they winked the other eye 
and said nothing;. It is hinted that iu this course may be often found 
an I'xphination of the hvvishuess with which the officers' mess is sen-ed. 

One nif^ht Major was smoking a ni}i;htcap cigar just outside his 

tent, when he cauj^ht sight of "Chickens" stealing past in the shade of 
the trees. "Chickens" of course was halted and asked why he was prowl- 
ing around at that time of night. Before the culpnt could frauu* an ex- 
cuse the Major noticed a suspicious bulging of the front of the trooju'r's 
blou.se, and au uneasy, twisting motion within. It was plain to him 
that "(/liickens" had been foi'aging, and was getting back into ([uarters 
with his plunder. 

"Been foraging, hey?" said the Major. "Don't you know it's against 
ordei-s?" 

"Chickens" stanunered out a (h-nial, when the Major, making a 
sudden grab at the fi'ont of liis blouse, lore it open, and out fell two 
plunij) ])ullets. 

"Stealing hens, hey?" said the Maj(U-. "You'll go to the diid; f(U' 
this." 

"Ah didn't dun steal 'em, Majah," said "Chickens," with brazeii ef- 
frontery. "Ah 'clar to goodness Ah didn't know dem ])ullets was dar. 
Mus' have crawled into mali blous t' keep wahm, Majah.'' 

The reidy tickled the veteran so niucii that iu' let "Ciiickens" pass, 
and the next morning there was one otlicer at the post who had stewed 
pullet for breakfast. 

One of the most famous i-cuimcnis ol' infanliy at Tampa was the 
Thirteenth. II has the well-earned reiiulation of being a good lighting 
body. Some of tiie most distinguished officers of the army have been on 
its rolls in tinu' past, among them Shenmin and Siiei-idan. The liistoi'v 
of tiie TliirliM-nth goes back to May 11, ISIU, when Presidcnl Lincoln 
(lirecled its organization. The (iisi colonel was William T. Sherman, 
who re-entered the ai-my after a number of years engaged in lianking 
and the |)ra(tice of law . C. C. .Vugur was one of t lie majors, and I'liilip 
II. Siieridan was a cajitain. Sheriilan joined the regiment in Xoveni- 
ber, IM'.I. but was soon apjiointed cliief commis.sary and quartermaster 
to the Army tif Southwest .Missouri, which practically severed his con- 
nection with Ihe regiment. 

In 1SI;2 the lirsl battalion of ihe legimenl entered on active service 
in the Mississipjii valley. It engaged in the Yazoo expedition under 



BATTLESilUVS AND TKOOIVS JiEdIN TO MOVI-]. 291 

Slieriiian, who was by tliat time a major-generalof voluulecrs, and took 
part latei' iu Grant's operations around Vicksburg. The battalion won 
for its colors tlie proud inscription, "First Ilonor at Vicksburg," and lost 
43.3 per cent of its force in the attack on the Confederates. Among 
the dead was its then commander, who died on the parapet. Sherman's 
nine-year-old son, Willie, who was with his father at Vicksburg, was 
playfully christened a "sergeant" of the Thirteenth battalion, and his 
death of fever in October, 18G3, called forth a sorrowful letter from 
General Sherman to the commander of the Thirteenth. "Please convey 
to the battalion my heartfelt thanks," he wrote, "and assure each and all 
that if in after years they call on me or mine, and mention that they were 
of the Thirteenth regulars when Willie was a sergeant, they will have a 
key to the affections of my family that -will open all it has; that '\\e will 
share with them our last blanket, our last crust!" 

After the war the regiment was transferred to the West. It was 
employed in Kansas, Montana, Dakota, Utah, Wyoming and elsewhere 
until 187-t, for a large part of the time serving almost continuously 
against hostile Indians. In 1874 it was moved to New Orleans, and was 
engaged on duty in the Department of the South for six years. During 
the labor riots of 1877 all but two companies were on duty at Pittsburg, 
Scranton, Wilkesbarre and other points in Pennsylvania. Then back 
to the West it went again, and, with some slight vacations, remained on 
the frontier until October, 1891, when it was transferred to various posts 
iu New York State, 



("MArTKH XL. 

DirLOMATIC KKI.ATKtXS TKIC.M IXATE. 

tJravL' lU'sponsibilitics l{i;i\rlv .Mel — 'l"hc riliiiiiituiii to Sjiaiii — Tlir Spanish 
Minister (if Forci^^n Affairs Sends .Minisli-r WDoilftird His Ti'anspoits — 
Our Consuls iu t'uba Leave tin* Island — Fate of Anieiicaus Left l>eliind 
— Sjianisli Sjnes at Work — I'lavinjir u Desperate (ianie. 

N(jne but those who were close to the men at the head of our (Jovern- 
meat just prior to the c(»iumenfein('nt of the war with Spain can realize 
with what solicitude they watched the develojinient of the preliMiiiiaiy 
proceediiij^s. 

\\'itli full aiiprcciatidii of tlicii- ^ra\t' rcs|)()iisihilities, kiiowiii^ llie 
power inhei'ent in llieii' positions to elTect results, and yet cognizant as 
the days went by of their inability to jin'Vent the fullilluient of fate, (hey 
endeavored to ;;uiile events so far as they could in a course which will 
hold them and the jieojile blameless in the sijjht of the world for what- 
ever mijilit follow. That they withstood the strain so well itcars testi- 
mony to their mental poise and strength of character. 

'I'lie I'ri'sident's demeanor underwent a noticeable chaii'^c. Tlir af- 
fable, cheeiy mood which formerly characterized hiiu, ^ave way to a 
Klernness of manner which befits a humane but just judfii' called u])on 
to execute a ri}j;liteous senti'ncc. A curious illustration of .Mr. McKin- 
ley's tenii»erameiit was shown in the dilTiicni !■ in his lieaiiu^ afli'C tin- 
passa^^e of the resolutions which made war iiie\ itahle. So loii^ as I lieie 
was the sfi-^litest chance for peaci- the pressn:<' of uiKritainty bnic 
heavily u[Min him, and his fare assumed a wan and liaj^^uard look. That 
look dill not eiilirely disappear, but it was no loni;cr marked by an.xiety. 
From the moment the decision was reaclicd w hii b imposed ujion him the 
leadei'shiji of a nation at war, he seemed to \\;\\r expciiiiiccd a sense of 
relief, for he saw his pathway straiubt before liim, iio mallei- bow ronub 
it mi^ht Ite. 

Immediately after sij^ninj,' the resolutions declaring fm- inleiveii- 
tion by our ('lovernnu'nt, the rresident sent an ultimatum lo Sjiaiii, iiiiot- 
inf; the act of ('(Ui}iress, and n(»tifyini; her that her army and navy must 
be witlnlrawn from Cuba by noon of Ajiril L'.'l 



DIPLOMATIC HKLATIOXS TKinilXATE. • 293 

The Spanish Minister, Poh) y Bernabe, at once a]i])lie(l for his pass- 
ports, and left the conntrv. The Spanish Government, Avitliont wailinj;' 
for Ministei' Woodford to deliver tlie ultimatum of the United States 
(iovernment, sent him his transports, thus taking the initiative and 
praetically de(lariu<i- war ajjainst this jiovernment. The ollieial notifi- 
cation to (leneral Woodford, from the Spanish Minister of Foreign Af- 
fairs, was as follows: 

Dear Sir: 

In coiiiplianco with a painful, duty, I have (he honor lo iiiforin you that 
there has been sanctioned by the President of the Republic a resolution of 
bfilh chand)ers of the United States which denies the lef>itiniate sovereignty 
of Spain, and threatens immediate armed intervention in ("ulia, which is ecjuiv- 
alent to a declaration of war. 

The Government of Her Majesty has ordered her Minister at Washington 
to retire without loss of lime from the territory of North America with all 
of the personality of the Legation. By this act the diplomatic relations which 
formerly existed between the two countries, and all official communications 
between their respective representatives cease. I am obliged to inform you, 
so that on your part you can make such arrangements as you believe con- 
venient. 

I beg that at a suitable time Your Excellency will acknowledge receipt 
of this and take this opportunity to reiterate the assurance of my most dis- 
tinguished consideration. PIC) CiULLON. 

General Woodford then turned over the Legation to the care of the 
British Government, and ordered all American Consuls in Spain to cease 
1 heir offices and leave the country at once. He then made his own ])repa- 
rations to leave and started for Paris without delay. 

Consuls in Cuba Leave the Island. 

Anticipating the action taken by Congress, a peculiar form of notice 
had been agTeed upon between Consnl-General Lee and the Consuls 
some weeks previously. The telegTam notifying them to leave the island 
was to be in these words: "Appropriation for relief of American citizens 
is exhausted." This form -^as devised for a reason which had its bear- 
ing upon the unhappy fate of the Americans left on the island. Spaniards 
of the vindictive class never got over the action of the United States in 
undertaking the support of its citizens in Cuba. That action was in strik- 
ing contrast with the course of the Spanish Government. The Span- 



294 DIl'LO:\IATir IfEl.ATIOX.^ TEinilXATE. 

iaids lost no opiioil unity to .show their resontnK'nt toward liic Auior- 
irans. When h)cal nn-asnres of relief wero i)hiniH'd, the Americans wei-o 
taunted, and tohl to look to the United States for lielj) and ]ii .iic.tinn. 
The charity extended by the United States hroiiiilit \\\>i>n the heneli- 
(iaries pei-secution at the hands of the SpauiaKls. ( IciMial i-cc, icaliziii};' 
the streugtli of this unworthy sentiment, thoujihl that a iiiessaii'' in the 
laugna<;e quoted would be so jjrateful to Spanish eyes t'lat it would be 
jnit throujih to the Consuls without delay. He was riuht ahnut tiiat. 
The <ioverninent atteini)ted to make jtrovision lnr ilic i-.'iii(>\al n\' ihc 
Americans on the island at the same time tliat t!ie (^'onsuls were nolilied 
to witlulraw. IJesults showed that only a com])aratively small number 
availed themselves of the oi)i)ortuinties to yn. A slii]i made its way 
alon<;' the south coast of < "idia and removiMl liom Sauliaiio, .Man/.auillo 
and ('ienfuejios between LMIO and ;!()() i-cfugces, conveyinji" them to .la- 
niaica. This was liaidly (ine-liair. l-'r(un the northern coast the nundter 
taken off the island was much smaller. At lla\ana there wcie nu ihe 
rolls of the Consulale over (i()(l Americans, of whom iieriiaps liOU elecied 
to take passajic im tiie shijis sent by the United States. At Matan/as, 
Consul I?rice had abdul 100 Americans. Consul Tiarker, at Saiitia, had 
abfuit the same number, while (onsiil ilance, at Car<lenas, had abnut 
100. A'ery few of these wanted to leave ilieir interests ami relali\('S. 
All of them were ni I erly destitute. They did mil know what they couhl 
do if they landed in the I'niled Slater willKHil fiieuds. Many of thein 
■were Cubans, wim had iixcd in iln^ Iniled Slales imly lony enouj;li to 
obtain American citizenship. All llieii- lies were in Cuba. They be- 
lie\cd that the warships wouiil come <iuickly with |iro\ isions. .\inl so 
they chose lo stay. When the Consuls lefl lliey put innd enonL'li in the 
possession of lli.'se .\merii-aus to la^^t them Imm ten days In Iwo weeks. 
The fate of t liese unfni-i unales can only be imai,nned. From I he p'-ejudic<' 
whi(di existed lowvird llie .\m"ii(;in i-eciuicenti-ados the ( 'oiisnis know 
that they won Id be I he last lo recei ve atiy ( lUisideral ion when the block- 
ade began to bear liea\ ily. 

Spanish Spies at Work. 

Just lU'ior In I he bii-akiiiji out of ad ual host ili lies between this coun- 
try and Spain Ihe ndlitary attache of the Spanish le:j;itiou at Washinfi- 
tf)n was comiH'lled to leave this coiinlry, because it was known he had 
been .seeking to learn certain facts ndative to the strength of our forts 
and their defensive e(jui|uuent. This man w.is Lieuteiiaid Sobral, and 



DIPLOMATIC BELATIONR TERMINATE. 295 

ill plain and unooniproniising' En<;lisb, he was a spy, or member of the 
Spanish secret senice, wliieh im])Iies the same thing. 

Before lie left this country he had been ejected from several forts 
along the South Atlantic coast, where he had been found endeavoring 
to gain access to those mysteries which no man, unless he wears the blue 
of the United States army, can righteously know aught of, even in times 
of peace. This was the first intimation this country had that Spain 
would introduce here the same system of espionage she employs at home. 
Following Sobral's expulsion from the country came the knowledge that 
S]ianish spies were working in Washington, watching every move made 
there; that they swarmed in Key West and in New York city, where they 
maintained a strict suiweillance over the members of the Cuban Junta. 

Many of these spies were American citizens, or at least nominally so, 
for their work was done under the direction of a well-known detective 
agency, acting, of course, with the Spanish representatives here. These 
men were principally engaged in preventing the shii)ment of stores and 
arms to Cuba. At one time it was impossible to enter or leave the 
building where the Junta had its headquarters without observing one or 
more men hanging about the pla,ce, apparently with nothing to do and 
making a vain effort to do it as gracefully as possible. These were thril- 
ling times in the annals of the Junta, when Eubens, Palma and Captain 
O'Brien were regularly followed to and from their homes to their head- 
quarters. These were good times, too, for the American detective 
agency. But all this was mere clumsy work, more of an annoyance 
than anything else, and scarcely any hindrance to the shipping of arm's 
and stores when the Junta was fortunate enough to have the arms and 
stores to ship. 

But after the declaration of war, the spy question assumed an aspect 
as serious as it was unlooked for. Spain worked silently, secrc^tly and 
through one of the best-handled branches of her government and with 
all the Latins' natural love of intrigue. She no longer paid much heed 
to Palma or Rubens, or to Captain O'Brien. She was playing a bigger 
game. American detectives no longer represented her interests here — 
an impossibility under existing conditions, of course. Under Polo was 
established a most complete department of espionage, which he con- 
trolled from the refuge Canada offered him. 

The gathering together of information and those facts which usually 
concern the operation of secret service of civilized countries seemed to 
be a side issue with this particular department. The scope of its opera- 



296 DIPLOJIATir RELATIONS TERMINATE. 

tions was along tliflercut lines from those usually fdllowed by the mere 

spy. 

Polo's intention appeared to be to cany the war into Anieriea in a 
new ami startling manner — startling, becanse his movements oonld not 
be seen or foretold until the blow was struck. lie made use of the corps 
under his control to place the bomb of the anarchist and apply the 
torch of tJie incendiary under our arsenals and to those buildings where 
the government stored its supplies for the anny and navy. 

For a time he was successful in his cowardly scheming and his em- 
issaries celebrated his success with many tons of good American guu- 
l>owder, and at the cost of some good American lives. Bombs were 
found in the coal reserved for use aboard our men-of-war. They were 
even taken from the coal bunkers of our shi]is and they were found in 
certain of the government buildings at Washing-ton. Indeed, the situa- 
tion became so serious that finally strangers were not allowed to visit a 
man-of-war or enter a fort. 

It must be remembered that there are in America thousands of Si)an- 
iards who, unless thej^ commit some overt act of violence, can enjoy all 
the privileges accorded to a citi/iCn, This, together with our mixed pop- 
ulation, in many quarters made up largely of the peoples of Southern 
Europe, all more or less of one type, all si>eaking languages which, to un- 
trained ears at least, are almost identical one with the other, gave the 
Sjianisli sjty in America a i)rotection and freedom from suspicion and 
surveillance he would hardly meet with in any other country, and which, 
by the inverse, r)lTered no oi)])ortunity for the American spy in Si)ain, 
had we chosen to make use of tiie same methods. 

Playing a Desperate Game. 

These Sj>aniards Avere jdaying a d('sp<'i'ate game, however. It was 
literally at the i)eiil of their necks, for should a man be apprehended, 
there would be no possibility of escaping the ignominious death that 
usually awaits on such services. Sobral was allowed to go, though 
there was no question but tlint his comliict was so incriminating that he 
was liable to an-esl, lri:il, iiiul, if rcjin ictid, death, had this country 
cared to hold him. liis fate abroad would he easy to foretell. His guilt 
was almost as great as that which brought Major Andre to his death in 
the times of the Revolution. 



^ 



CHAPTER XLI. 

FIRST GUNS AND FIKST TKIZES OF THE WAR 

Capture of the LaFayette — Tlie Government Orders Her Release — Towin^^ 
Prizes Into Key West — The Spanish Set a Trap— The Vicksburg and 
the Morrill Take the Bait— The Spanish Gunners Poor Marksmen— 
Another Narrow Escape. 

Shortly after the proclamatiou of the blockade of Cuban ports a cap- 
ture was made which threatened international complications. The 
French mail steamer LaPayette was held up almost under the guns of 
Morro Castle. 

The Annapolis hailed her in the harbor offing and receiving no an- 
swer but a show of the French tricolor plumped a six-pounder across 
her bows and brought her up standing. 

Prayers and Tears in Staterooms. 

Of the Kil cabiu passengers on the steamer eighty were women and 
children. They locked themselves in the staterooms when the warning 
shot was fired and the Annapolis and Wilmington approached, and gave 
themselves up to prayers and tears. 

Most of the passengers were Spaniards or Cubans, and there were a 
few Mexicans. Nearly all were bound for Havana. 

The steamer was tilled to the hatches with medicines, provisions, 
wines and cotton goods consigned to merchants in Havana and Vera 
Cruz, Mexico. It is estimated that the value of the ship's cargo was 
nearly |500,000. Her net tonnage is 4,000 tons. She hails from San- 
tander, France, and cleared from Corunua, Spain, April 215, two days 
after the President issued the blockade proclamation, although Captain 
Lechapelane declared he was not notified. 

As soon as official notice of her capture reached Washington tele- 
grams were sent ordering immediate release. 

The explanation for this action on the part of the administration is 
given in the statement which follows and which was issued from the 
White House: 

"The LaFayette was released in pursuance of orders which were is- 
sued by the Navy Department previous to her seizure, but which had not 



298 FIRST <;INS ANI> FIRST I'RIZKS OF THE WAH. 

been received by the loininaiuiiuji (iHirers of the vessels that iiuule the 
cajitiiie. The faits are that on April 29 the French Embassy made au 
infiiniial im|uiiy as to whether the LaFayelle, which left Saint Nazaire, 
France, for \'eia Cniz, by way of Havana, before war was declared or in- 
formation of the blockade was received, wouhl bi' alh.wed to land at Ha- 
vana certain passenj^ers, her mail ba^s and the disi)atch bajj of the ("on- 
sulate-CJeueral of France and take some French ])asseii}j;ers on board. 
An assnrance was j;iven that, if this privilege should be f^'Jiuted, the 
steamer would be forbidden by the Franoh (Vmsnl to laud jjoods. 

"The matter was duly consideied and it was decided that, without 
refiard tn (he strict law of blockade and as an act of courtesy, the re- 
quest of the French rjovcniment should be acceded to. Orders were ac- 
cordingly sent on the 2d of .May. Wheu information was receive<l of 
the cai»ture of the steamer and of her having bet-n brought to Key West, 
these onlers were communicated to the captors, with instructions to re- 
lease the steamer and see that (he orders were duly delivered, so (hat 
they might be canied into ell'ect. No demand was ma<le, either by or on 
behalf of the Fi'eiich ( lovernment, direcdy or indiiccdy, for (he s(eam- 
er's release. The Wilmiiiglon will esc(ir( the I.aFayi-tte (o Havana to- 
night." 

(»ii May S(li (he Hiitish (ramp s( earner SiradHlce, Captain ('uific, at- 
(i-nipli-d tn iiiii the iilnikaile, liut was dvciliaiiliil liy ilir gniihnal .Ma- 
chias. 'i"he Captain of (he Sd'adidee claimed tha( I he vessel was loaded 
with sugar and (hat he had on board a numbei" of Sjianish refugees finm 
Sagna la (iraiule. He also said thai (he steamer was bound for Matan- 
zas, where it was desired (o disembark some of the refugees. The com- 
mander of (he .Machias was skepdcal of (he s(ory, however, and warned 
the Ca|i(aiii of the Strathdee that if he at tomjited to take the vessel into 
Matanzas she wouhl be tired on, whei-eupoii the Strat hdee jiut about and 
K(eame<I away in (he direcdoii of Xi'W York. 

Three Small Prizes Towed into Key West. 

Three jirizes wiir brought in May •.tlli. They wire the brigautiiie Lo- 
renzo, taken li\ I lie .Montgomery near Ha\aMa, on I'riday, while bound 
foi' Kio de la ('lata with a cargf) of dried beef. 

Till- Kspana, a little fishing slor)p, was taken by the Moiiill about 
t hree miles off .Mariel just after a sharp engagement. Tlic New jiort was 
close at hand at the time, and a i)rize crew made up from both ships 
brought the cajiture in. 



FIRST (jUNS and FI1{ST I'HI/KS OF TlIK WAR. 299 

The third vessel taken was tJie schooner Padre de Dios, Master Mateo 
Herrera, hideii with fish. It was taken by the Newport off Mariel, and 
was brought in by a petty ofiicer and a prize crew. All threi' accepted 
one blank shot apiece as sufficient. 

Making Her Prize Work as Towboat. 

One captive was .seen taking another to jioi't on tlie morning of .Alay 
9th. Both are prizes of the gunboat Newport, and were ca]itured be- 
tween Mariel and Havana. 

It was about sunrise, just after an inex]»licable shot had been fired 
from a Havana battery, that a dispatch boat off Morro Ca.stle sighted 
the Newport with a big Norwegian tramp steamer, the Bratsberg, fol- 
lowing obediently. Suddenly tlie Newport's stack blew cloiuls of black 
smoke, and, looking for the cause, a pretty two-mas<ted schooner was 
seen, her sails wing and wing, flying from the northwest for Havana. 

A blank shot sounded over the watei's. The schooner stood no 
chance, but she kept her coui-se until a solid six-pounder fro)n the New- 
port skimmed across to her, and dropped ahead of the bowsi)rit. Then 
she dropped her jib and came about quickly, sailing toward the warship, 
as one has seen a dog inin to his master at tlie snap of a lash. She was 
the Feruandito, avaricious of the bounty Captain-General Blanco ofl^'ered 
for fish di'livered to hungry Havana. A line was put aboard her, and the 
Bratsberg was compelled to take the other end and go to Key West. 

The Spanish set a trap one day during the blockade. The wnly Span- 
iards an-anged a trap to send a couple of our ships to the bottom. A 
small schooner was sent out from Havana harbor to draw some of the 
Americans into the ambuscade. The ruse worked like a charm. The 
Yicksburg and the Moriill, in the heat of the chase and in their contempt 
for Spanish gunnery, walked straight into the trap that had been set for 
them. Had the Spaniards possessed their souls in patience but five min- 
utes longer, not even their bad gun practice would have saved our ships, 
and two more of our vessels would lie at the bottom within two lengths 
of the ^\Teck of the ill-starred Maine. 

Friday evening the "S'icksburg and the Morrill, cruising to the west 
of Morro Castle, were fired on by the big guns of the Cojimar batteries. 
Two shots were fired at the Vicksburg and one at the Morrill. Both fell 
short, and both vessels, without returning the fire, steamed out of range. 
It would have been folly to have done otherwise. But this time the 
Spaniards had better luck. The schooner they had sent out before day- 



300 FIKST crXS AND FIRST PRIZED* OF THE WAR. 

li;;lil ran olT ttt the eastward, lui<;yiii{; the shore, with tho wind on her 
starboard (juartfr. About tlirct- miles east of the entrance to the har- 
bor she came ov«'r on the port tack. A lijiht haze fringed tlie horizon and 
slie was not discovered until three miles oil shore, w lien the MavUower 
made her out and sijiiialed the .Mnirill and \'lrkshnr<;. 

They Take the Bait. 

Captain Smith, of the .Morrill, and Commander Lilly, of the Vicks- 
burj:, immediately slapjied on all steam and started in pursuit. The 
schooner instantly ])nt abont and ran for Morro Qistle before the wind. 
15y doinj; so she would, accordiii;;- to the well-conceived Sjianish i)lot, 
lead the two American warshii)s directly under the guns of the Santa 
Clara batteries. These works ai-e a short mile west of Morro, and are 
a part of the defenses of the harlxn-. There are two batteries, one at the 
shcjre, which has been recently thrown u]>, of .sand and mortar, with wide 
embrasures for ei^iht-iuc^h j^iins, and the other on the crest of the rocky 
eminence which juts out into the water of the j,Milf at the point. 

The ujiper battery mounts modern 10-iiich and 12-imh Krupp uiins 
behind a six-foot stone i>ara]K't, in front of which are twenty feet of 
earthwork and a beltinji of railroad iron. This battery is considered the 
most fonnidable of Havana's defeii.ses except Morro Castle. It is masked 
and has not been absolutely located by the American warshijts. It is 
])robably due to the fact that the Spanish did not desire to expose its 
position that the Vicksbiir<; and Morrill are now afloat. 

The Morrill and Vi<ksbur{j were about six miles from the scliooi'cr 
when the chase be;:an. They steamed after h<'r al full sp<'e(l, the Morrill 
leading: until within a mile and a half of tlie Santa Clara batteries. 
Commander Smith, of the \'icksbiii ir. was the tirst to realize the dan^rer 
int<i which the reckless pursuit had led lliciii. lie concluded it was 
lime to haul <ilT and sent a shot across the bow of tiic sciiooiier. 

Nearly Hit by Shrapnel Shells. 

The Sp.anish skipper inslanlly lu'oujiht his ves.sel about, but while she 
was still rollin-,' in the Iroujih of the sea, with her sails tlaiiijinj,*-, an S-inch 
shrapnel shell came liurtliiiLT throu<,'li the air from the water batten-, a 
mile and a half away. It ]»ass(^l ovr-r the Morrill between the i)ilot- 
h(»use and the smokestack and exploded less than fifty feet on the port 
quarter. Tlie small shot rattlcil against her side. It was a clone call. 



FIKST (JUNS AND FIKST I'KIZES OF THE WAK. 301 

Two more shots followed iu quick succe.ssioii, both slirapiiel. Oue 
burst close under the starboard quarter, filling the engine room with 
the smoke of the explosion of the shell, and the other, like the first, 
passed over and exploded just beyond. 

The Spanish gunners had the range and tlieir time fuses were ac- 
curately set. The crews of both ships were at their guns. Lieutenant 
Craig, who was in charge of the bow 4-inch rapid-fire gun of the Morrill, 
asked for and obtained permission to return the fire. At the first shot 
the Vicksburg, which was in the wake of the Morrill, slightly iu-shore, 
sheered off and passed to windward under the MiHTill's stern. 

Another Xarrow Escape. 

In the meantime. Captain Smith also put his helm to port, and was 
none too soon, for as the Morrill stood off a solid 8-inch shot grazed her 
starboard quarter and kicked up tons of water as it stnick a wave 100 
yards beyond. Captain Smith said afterward that this was undoubtedly 
an S-inch armor-])iercing projectile, and that it would have passed 
through the Morrill's boilers had he not changed his course in the nick 
of time. 

All the guns of the water batteiy were now at work. Oue of them 
cut the Jacob's ladder of the Vicksburg adrift, and another can-itnl away 
a portion of the rigging. As the Morrill and the Vicksburg steamed 
away their aft guns were used, but only a few shots were fired. The 
Morrill's 6-inch gun was elevated for 4,000 yai-ds and struck the earth- 
works repeatedly. The Vicksburg fired but three shots from her 
()-pounder. 

The Spaniards continued to fire shot and sh(>ll for twenty minutes, 
but the shots were ineffective. Some of them were so wild that they 
roused the American "Jackies" to jeers. The Si)auiards only ceased fir- 
ing when the Morrill and Vicksburg were completely out of range. 

If all the Spanish gunners had been suffering from strabismus tlieir 
jiractice could not have been worse. But the officers of both the Morrill 
and Vicksburg frankly admit their own recklessness and the narrow es- 
cape of their vessels from destruction. They are firmly convinced that 
the pursuit of the schooner was a neatly planned trick, which almost 
proved successful. 

If any one of the shots had struck the thin skin of either vessel it 
Avould have offered no more resistance than a piece of paper to a rifle 
balk 



■602 FIKST UUNS AND FIKST I'lMZES OF THE WAK. 

Poor Aim of the Spaniards. 

The accurate ranj;<' of the lirst few shots is accounted for by the fact 
that the Spanish ollicers had auiph' time to make observations. The 
beariuys of the two vessels were jtrobably taken with a raui;e-tinder at 
the Santa Hara battery, and, as this l)attery is probably connected by 
wire with Morro, they were able to take bearinjis from both jioiuts, and 
by laborious calculations they fixed the iwsitions of the vessels pretty 
accurately. With such ojjportunity for observation it would have been 
no great trick for an American gunner to drop a shell down the smoke- 
stack of a vessel. 

As soon as the shijis sheered off after the first fire the Spanish gun- 
ners lost the range and their practice became ludicrous. If they had 
waited five minutes longer before opening fire. Captain Smith says, it 
would have been well-nigh impossible to have missed the target 



CHAPTER XLII. 

DECLARATION OF \VAR. 

The Spanisli Miuistor iu Washington Demamlis His Passports — Minister 
Woodford Leaves Madrid — Formal D(>cla ration of War — Our Govern- 
ment Deckires Its Intentions — The War Feeling in Spain — Effect of 
the Declaration in Cuba — Opinion of the Vice-President of the Cuban 
Republic. 

Spain was given until Saturday, April 2?>, at noon, to answer the 
demand of our government expressed in. the joint C^ubau resolutions, 
passed by both Houses of Congress, and sigiied by the President. In 
default of an answer by that time, the President declared his intention 
to carry out the purpose of the ultimatum. A copy of this ultimatum 
Avas delivered to Senor Polo, the Spanish Minister at Washington. Senor 
Polo instantly demanded his passports, declared all diplomatic relations 
between himself as Minister and the United States no longer possible, 
and within a few hours was on his way to Canada. 

At Madrid, before our Minister could comply with his instrnctions, 
he was notified by the Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs that diplo- 
matic relations were at an end. He at once asked for his i^assports, and 
the same day left for Paris. 

President McKinley rightly regarded the conduct of Spain iu break- 
ing off diplomatic intercourse and refusing even to receive his demand, 
as an equivalent to an absolute refusal. There remained no rea.son to 
await action till Saturday noon, as no possible reply could be exjiected 
to a demand the very presentation of which had been positively rejected. 
In short, Spain instantly showed that it regarded the act of Congress 
and President as practically a declaration of war, and there remained 
no resort except to arms. 

On Monday, April 25, the President sent to CongTess a message 
asking for a joint resolution declaring that a state of war existed 
between Spain and the United States, and a bill was at once introduced 
into the House declaring that war did exist, and had existed, since and 
including April 21, which passed in less than two minutes. The Senate 
promptly concurred and the bill became a la.w. 

303 



:H)i DECLARATION 01-^ WAK. 

While the United States was not a part}' to the Uei lanUiou of Paris, 
the government made known its intention to maintain its four cardinal 
principles: (1) Privateering abolished- (2) Neutral flags to exempt 
an enemj's goods from capture, except contraband of war. (3) Neutral 
goods under an enemy's flag not to be seized (4) Blockade to be bind- 
ing must be effective. !S[)ain, on her part, issued a decree recognizing the 
fact that a state of war existed, breaking off all treaties with the United 
States, and promising to observe the rules just given, except that she 
maintained her right to grant letters of marque to privateers. But this 
exoeptio-u was modified by Spain's declaring her intention to send out 
only auxiliaiy cruisers taken from the mercantile marine and kept 
under naval contnd. One consideration which may have influenced this 
decision was the self-evident fact that the EuroiJcan I'owers would cer- 
tainly interfere, in the event that Spain attempted to cany on privateer- 
ing under the old methods. 

The War Feeling in Spain. 

In Si)ain the war feeling was high. T\w (^uecn Kegent, in her speech 
to the Cortes, declared "the unalterable ri'sohition of my governiiieiit lo 
defend our rights, whatsoever sacrifices may be imposed upon us in 
accomi»lishing this task." She said further: 

"Thus identifying myself with the nation, I not only fulfil the oath I 
swore in accepting the regency, but I f(dlow the dictates of a mother's 
heart, trusting to the Spanish people to gather behind my smi's Ihmue 
and to defend it until he is old enough to dcfcinl it himself, as well as 
trusting to the S|iaiiish ])c(ii)lr lo (IcCcikI liic linnur and territory of the 
nation." 

The Policy of the Administration. 

Tlic i'rcsidcut and Congress iiiiiloiiliteilly acted on tlie lines of good 
]M)licy in making a formal deciaradon of war. .\s .Mr. McKinley said in 
his message to Congiess, the trend of events comjx'lled him to take meas- 
ures of a hostile kind. .\ blockade had been established and Spanish 
vessels had been caijtni-eil. ^VhiIe eveiy civilized ]M»wer on earth imme- 
diately learned the facts, there still remained the necessity of going 
through the formal act of notifying them of this goveniment's inten- 
tions. In this instance, as in others in the nation's history, the actual 
hostilities were begun before it seemed nec(>ssary for th(» government to 
make a formal declaration. According to the authorities on interna- 
tional law, "a <leclaration may be necessary, but is not essential." In 




From Phulu Cupynyht 1S91 by H. G. PeaboJy, Boslon Mass. 

THE UNITED STATES PROTECTED CRUISER ■CHICAGO" 

Thickness of protective deck is 1J'< inches. Speed. IS knots. 



DECLARATION OF WAR. 305 

this case, when it became so evident that a general conflict was immi- 
nent, the administration did fairly by the commercial nations of the 
world in formally stating its position, and giving them all warning as 
to the consequences which might follow in the case of vessels attempting 
to enter Cuban waters. 

The resolutions were admirably brief and concise, mei'ely declaring 
the existence of a state of war, and authorizing the President to do what- 
ever he thought best with the army and the navy. 

By this act, while the situation was in itself no way changed, the 
nation assumed a definite diplomatic status as a power at war, and was 
free to proceed to any such acts as came within the laws of civilized 
nations in time of war. 

Effect of the Declaration in Cuba. 

When the news of the action of the administration reached the in- 
surgents in Cuba it caused great rejoicing among them, for they felt 
that the hour of their deliverance was at last at hand. In speaking of 
it, Dr. Capote, Vice-President of the Cubasn Republic, said: 

I desire to thank the great American people and their government for the 
resolution they have made to free us from the tyrannical rule of Spain. The 
people of Cuba believe in the good faith of the people of America. They be- 
lieve in their honesty of purpose to free Cuba and are confident of their ability 
to do so; but it must be borne in mind that the loadstar of the Cuban is not 
merely freedom from the dominion of Spain, but independence from outside 
control, however beneficent that control might be, and absolute non-interfer- 
ence by others in the management of our own affairs. "Cuba free and inde- 
pendent" is the watchword of Cuban liberty. 

The Cuban commanders await some decisive step on the part of your gen- 
erals. If you can open up and maintain commuuieation with the Cuban armies, 
and give us a plentiful supply of arms and annnuuition, we will free Cuba with- 
out the loss of an American soldier. Our position on the field is precarious. 
For lack of supplies, we cannot concentrate our troops. Our camps shift from 
place to place, according to food conditions. We are hampered and embar- 
rassed for lack of ammunition. We cannot arm the men we are able to put in 
the field. Open up communication, give us arms and supplies, and we ask no 
more. 

As to the eventual settlement of the island, when the war is endi'd and 
when the last Spanish soldier has left Cuba, the work of the provisional gov- 
ernment will be ended. The people of Cuba, whatever the class or sympathy, 
will then say how we shall be governed. There will be no reprisals, no confis- 
cation, no distinctions. 



CUArTEK XLIII. 

CALL FOR THE NATIONAL GUARD, OUR CITIZEN SSOLDIERY. 

Eutliusiastic Aiiswor to tlio Call — KcMiuuviueiits of the War Dciiai'tiiu-nt — 
Who May Enlist — How the Army was Formed — In the Trainint; Camps 
— The American Makes the Rest Soldier — The "Rouj,'h ICiders" — Cow- 
boys and So<-iety Men — Their Uniforms aud Their Weapons — Their 
Fij^htinfi Leaders. 

If all tlie men who sli(3WC'd a. desire to answer the call tu arms had 
boon accepted, uo nation in the world could have boasted of a larj^er 
army. The demand was so limited and the supply so great that many 
more bad to be refused than were accepted, and nianj' of the National 
Guard, who were given the preference in all the States, were rejected at 
the final examination, because they lacked some of the qualifications 
necessaiy in a soldier of the United States. 

According to the requirements of the war depart.UKnit applicants for 
enlistment must bo between the ages of IS and 35 years, of good charac- 
ter and habits, able-b(Mlied, free from disease an<l must be able to speak 
the English language. If one is addicted to the bad habit of smokin* 
cigarettes it is quite likely that he will not pass th(> physical examina- 
tion. A man who has been a hea\'3- drinker is apt to be rejected without 
ceremony. 

Married men will only be enlistiMl uiv)n the approval of the regi- 
mental commander. 

Minors must not be enlisted without the written consent of father, 
only surviving parent, or legally appointed guardian. Original enlist- 
ment will be confined to persons who are citizens of the United States or 
who have made legal declaration of their intention to become citizens 
thereof. 

These requirements fulfilled a man is permitted to take the physical 
examination. Few understand just how rigid this examination is. 
Many have been rejected who thought that they were in perfect physical 
condition. A number of applicants who were contident that they would 
be allowed to enlist were rejected by the physicians on account of A'ari- 

300 



CALL FOR THE NATIONAL GUARD. 307 

cose veius. Varicose veins are enlarged veins which are apt to bui-st 
under the stress of long continued exertion. Closely allied to this is 
varicocele, which thi'ew out a surprisiuglj- large proportion of the 
National Guard and the recruits. 

After a man is weighed and his height taken, he is turned over to the 
doctor, who places the applit-ant's hands above his head and proceeds to 
feel his flesh. If it is soft and of flabby fiber the physician is not well 
pleased and if he finds that the bones are too delicate for the amount 
of flesh he turns the applicant down. Fat men, however, get through 
if their bones are solid and there is no organic weakness of any descrip- 
tion. To discover the condition of the heart the applicant is made to 
hop about five yards on one foot and back again on the other. The doc- 
tor then listens to the beating of the heart. lie lifts his head and says 
to some apparently fine-looking specimen of mauhood the simple word: 

"Rejected." 

This man has heart trouble, and, strange to say, he does not know it. 
If a man be of a pale complexion or rather sallow, the doctors will ques- 
tion him with regard to his stomach. Of course the luugs are thoroughly 
tested. It is not often, however, that any one presents himself who is 
suffering from lung trouble. One man in particular was rejected 
because of the formation of his chest. He was what is commonly known 
as "pigeon-breasted." The doctors said that there was not enough room 
for air in the lungs, and yet the rejected applicant was a well-known 
athlete. 

But after all organic centers have been found in excellent condition 
several things yet remain to be tested. A man's feet must not blister 
easily. His teeth must be good, because bad teeth interfere with diges- 
tion and are apt to develop stomach troubles. Of course other things 
taken into consideration a particular defect may be overlooked accord- 
ing to the discretion of the doctor. A man with his index finger gone 
stands no show. 

A bow-legged man will be accepted, but a knocked-kneed man rarely. 

The final test is of the eyes. At a distance of twenty feet one must 
be able to read letters a half inch in size. Many tricks were played to 
read the letters when the eager candidate could see only a blur before 
him. The favorite method was to memorize the letters from those who 
had taken the examination and knew in just what order the letters were 
situated. 



308 CALL FOR THE NATIONAL CUARD 



How an Army Is Formed. 

Tile uiakiug of jin army — that is Avhat it means to turn men of iK'ace 
to men of war, to fit the mechaxiic or the biisiuess mau, the farmer or 
the miner, for a passage at arms with a foreign foe — has been for the 
present generation a matter of conjecture and of lessons drawn from 
previous passages in the nation's chronicles. In our w^ar with Spain it 
became a fact, and tlie progress made in the various stages forms a chap- 
ter in the public history which is as interesting as any of those conquests 
of either peace or war which brighten for eveiy Ameiican the pages of 
the achievements of the Union of the States. 

It is impossible to tell just hoAV an army is made. During tlie long 
debates which i)receded the declaration of war, eloquent men on both 
sides of the chambers of Congress pictured the strength of American 
arms, the shrillness of the scream of the eagle, and the sharpness of his 
talons, and applauding galleries saw in the coming combat little but 
the calling out of the vast body of the i-eserve strength of the American 
people, its marching upon tiie enemy, and rotui'u, bearing captured 
standards and leading prisoners in chains, to llic music of the applaud- 
ing nations, and the thanl<sgiviug of a people made free by their strug- 
gles. Tlie other side was never touclied. The nights of toil by staff 
officers, tlie multiplied forces of nulls and factories, the shriek of the 
trains crossing tiie continent, bearing men and munitions, and tlie hours 
of waiting for the comi)letiou of those warlike implements wiiicli tlie 
jieaceful American lias never before contemplated iu the exjiansion of 
his industrial institutions, were entirely overlooked. 

Not by all, however, for, from the UKunent the conllict seemed inev- 
itable, stern-eyed men who had fought before began to count, not tlie 
cost, but the houre between tlie giving of an order and its fultillmeiil, 
between the calling and the coiniiig, and finally when the results of their 
labors were comjdeted the story of wliat tliey did may be i)artly told. 

All the processes of making a soldier are as distinct as are those 
which mark Ihe seed time and the harvest, the milling and the making 
of the loaf. It can be readily seen that in a country where the standing 
army is l)ut 2.~),000, and the militia forces of the various States bears 
such a slight pro])ortion to the pojmlation, that inanufac-tures of mate- 
rials of use onlj- in time of war could not llourish. Thus it was that at 
the time of the commencement of hostilities there wa.s available in the 



CALL FOR THE NATIONAL GUARD. 309 

United States eqnipmeut for au army of less than oue-fiftli the size of that 
which afteiTs-ai'ds took the field, and patriotism and fidelity were shown 
as much in the outfitting of that force, as can be shown in actual battle 
by any yolunteer or regular officer, whether he be posted in fort or field, 
and win glory by brilliant dash, or simply doing his duty by holding his 
post. 

The ready response to the President's call for yolunteers was suf- 
ficient to prove that the people were eager to take up amis and ready to 
go to the front. But enthusiasm, patriotism and readiness never make 
an army. An army is a great machine, of which each individual is a 
part, and there even the militia men of the various States, who had 
spent so much time in preparing themselves for just such a stmggle, 
lacked the one great element without which no army can hope for suc- 
cess: the capacity- to move in unison. Few of the States had given their 
men the training which makes of the simple comjiany or regiment a 
wheel in the brigade or division. 

In the great camps at Chickamauga, at Camp Alger, at Tampa, and 
at San Francisco the task of making an army from men who a month 
before had been working in the store, the mill or the field, went on. This 
meant long, thorough drilling under competent instructors. Careful 
study of the tactics and intelligent comprehension of the meaning of 
an order makes the soldier. It is not possible to imagine anything more 
difficult than the thorough training of the arms bearer, and for this 
task the American seems better fitted than the men of any other countiy. 
In an analysis of the soldiers of the world an authority would place the 
American, combining as he does the blood of nations, at the head of the 
list, for the reason that with his finer sensibility, his greater capacity to 
think while acting and to act while thinking, all tend to produce in him 
that character capable of high and perfect development in the soldier. 

At Chickamauga, under General Wade; at Washing-ton, under Gen- 
eral Graham; at Tampa, under General Shatter; at San Francisco, 
under General Merriam, and on the New York and New England coasts 
under bingadiers who had served East and West, the raw material was 
formed, until at length the perfect soldier was produced, the soldier of 
whom it could be said: 

"Theirs not to reason why, 
Theirs but to do and die." 



310 CALL FOR THE NATIONAL (UAKP. 



About the Rough Riders. 

Those wlio iirc ;U'(iu;iiiiti(l willi ilic iialuic <it' Ihe si'i'vice usuallv re- 
qiiire<l of tavalry in time of wai- will not (luesiion the usefnhie.ss of the 
(•(jwboy rejiiiiienl — ron^h i-iders as they are caUeil — that wore raised in 
the West to take part in the invasion of Cuba. 

The cowboy is a rapidly ])assin}; ty]M'. Iiarhed wire, tiie feniinj;- in 
of tlie raniic, together witli the irrigation and cultivation of those 
rej^ions which were once marked as deserts on the maps — have been re- 
sponsible for his undoint; and lie lias made what may prove to be his last 
stand, as a soldier. 

Tlie cowboy rej;inu'nt was the idea of the assistant secretary of the 
navy, Theodore Koosevelt, who had had some experience himself as a 
cowboy on his Wyominjj; ranch and who was an expert in such matters 
as branding', rope-throwint;-, broncho brt-akinti and those other practices 
which are peculiar to the "cow-i)uncher." 

Lieutenant-Colonel IJoosevelt's rejiiment, which figures on the army 
re<-ords as the "1st re<;iment of rifle ranj;ers," but which the jj;eneral 
l)ublic from the first jucferred 1o call "Roosevelt's roujrh riders," or more 
simply still, "Teddy's terror.s," was made u]) almost entirely <if cowboys, 
with a small spi-inklin<j- of society men, wlm li.id Imi I: a Iniiilncss and an 
a]>titnile for horsemanslii]), which had found no nlhcr nulld llian that 
olTcrcd by the limitin;; field and the ]i<do ground. 

Made Up Almost Entirely of Cowboys. 

In oi-L;ani/.al inii ihr i-c^^iiiiciil was not widely dilTcrciit from the 
famous Texas i;anj,fers, but the uniform was the same as that of the 
cavalrymen of the re;,ndar army, sli;;htly modilie<l. lis personnel, with 
the excei)tioii of the millionaire niendiers— was about the same, however, 
as that of Ihe I{anj;ers. It im-lnd<'d men from almost every Stale in the 
rnion, and they could one ami all ride well, and shoot well, and many of 
them smelled j)owder in moi'c than one Indian war. 

While Lieutenanl-Coloiu'l Roosevelt took the mo.sf active i)art in its 
foiniation, he did not command the refjinient. That res])onsibility was 
delef^ated to Colonel Wood, who was almost as well known in the West 
as Roosevelt was in the K;ist. lie entered Iho army as a surireon, but he 
probably had much inorv to do A\itli the makinir of wounds than their 
liealin" 



CALL FOR THE NATIONAL GUARD. 311 

It is said of liim that when he was first assigned for duty to an 
Arizona post he arrived at the post one night at 7 o'clock, and the next 
morning at 4 was in the field and at work. This was during the Apache 
campaign in 1885, and Surgeon Wood soon won for himself the name of 
the fighting doctor. He was conspicuous in the famous Geronimo out- 
break, having command at various times of the infantiy and scouts 
engaged in the chase after that Avily savage. 

The regiment was armed with the Ki-ag-Jorgensen carbine and 
revolvers, without which no cowboy would be complete even in time of 
peace. And instead of the regular cavalry sword, which is a rather 
unwieldy instrument except in the hands of men trained to its use, the 
rough riders adopted the Cuban machete, which even the inexperienced 
can use successfully ; but it was not intended that they should be swords- 
men; their reliance was on the rifle and revolver. The machete was car- 
ried merely as a possible dependence should ammunition fail, or a hand- 
to-hand encounter with the cavalry of the enemy occur. In the develop- 
ment of this plan of action it can be seen that Colonel Wood and Lieuten- 
ent-Colonel Roosevelt in the tactics they emploj-ed followed closely those 
used by the mounted riflemen of the revolution. It was a band of this 
sort that after a ride of sixty miles the last day met and utterly routed 
the English under Colonel Ferguson. 



CHAPTER XLIV. 

BLOCKADE OF CUBAN TORTS. 

Contraband of War — Contiscatinn of (';iif;<ics — Estnlplislimciil (if a liltukadc' 
— Notice to OtlitT Nations — rrizos, Lawful and I'nlawfvil — I'rivatt'er- 
ing Abolislu'd — Distiibuliou of Prize Money — The Use the Govern- 
ment Makes of Its Slinre. 

While the gi'eat bh)ckado was in ])ro}j;re.ss tlio air was full nf talk 
about "prizes," "eontraband," "seareh," and "seizure," and sonic of the 
tenns proved rather puzzliujj to the average citizen who had never had 
occasion to study the rules of war. 

First about "contraband." It is one of the strictest rules of war that 
netitral nations must not interfere nor in any way iJ^ve help to eitlier 
party. To furnish sliips or anus or aniniunition niigiit i^reatly prolonjj 
tlie conflict or even chajige its result, especially where tliis assistance is 
extended to a nation — like Spain to-day — ill snpi)li('il and of small 
res<nirces. This would be manifestly unfair, and for a neutral to offer or 
abet such aid is a <jrave offense. For remissness in an aggravattHl case 
of this sort (that of the Alabama) England was forced to pay ns heavy 
damages. Neither national sympathy nor national interests alTord any 
excuse. 

Thai is why we restrained and iniiiislicd tliose wlio organized ex])e- 
ditions to iielji tiie Cubans wiiiie we wer(> still at peace witli Sjiain. Hut 
nations engaged in war must not a.sk too much. They may insist that a 
neuti'ai sliall allow no hostile operations to be caiTied on witiiin its ter- 
ritory, but. they have no rigiit to demand that it shall ]>unish its private 
citizens for engaging in trade in articles that may i»e lielpful to the 
enemy, for lluit would be imixising too much trouble and expense n])on 
a nation which has no contem in the r)uarre]. Sn( h trade is punishable, 
but it is the business of the nation injured by it to catch the ships 
engaged in it and enforce the penalty — which is usually confiscation of 
the goods as "contraband of war." To do this it may stop and search any 
shi]>s — exce]»t warships — which it finds at sea; and so long as no out- 
rages are committed lln' neutral must subiiiil and has no gi'oiind for 

312 



BLOCKADE OP CUBAN PORTS. 313 

complaint. Trade iu contraband goods is tolerated, but it is carried on 
at the trader's own risk. His government will not undertake to protect 
him from the legitimate consequences of his venture. 

As has been stated, the contraband goods are confiscated by the 
captor. The vessel, however, must be captured while the guilty goods 
are still on board; to seize the proceeds after the cargo has been sold and 
lauded is not allowable, though it has sometimes been done. If the ship 
belongs to the same owner as the forfeited goods, it, too, is confiscated; 
otherwise it goes free after the goods are taken off. 

It is very important to know just what articles are contraband and 
what are not; but this is often hard to decide. There is no question 
about weapons, militaiy equipments and ammunition. These are 
plainly contraband, and the materials from which they are made are 
classed with them whenever they seem intended for militaiy uses. Thus 
sulphur and saltpeter are always contraband. The detached parts of 
cannon and naval engines do escape by the trick of separation. 

Cloth is not contraband in itself, but if of a quality evidently de- 
signed for the manufacture of uniform it would probably be seized. 
Horses are so useful in war that most nations treat them as contraband 
— though, oddly enough, Russia has never done so. Still more objection- 
able, nowadays, is coal, which will never be allowed to reach the bunkers 
of hostile warships if it can be prevented. This shows plainly how uncer- 
tain and changeful is the list, for fifty years ago coal was as free as pro- 
visions, though even food must not be run through the lines of a 
blockade. 

Articles, such as coal, which are of great value iu war, but are also 
largely used for peaceful purjioses, are called "occasional contraband" 
and their seizure has given rise to endless disputes. There is no justice 
iu treating them as contraband except when they are obviously destined 
for hostile use. Sometimes, in doubtful cases, such goods, instead of 
being confiscated, are seized and paid for to prevent their reaching the 
enemy. This is called "pre-emption;" but, fair as it seems, there is much 
danger that it will be made a pretext for appropriating goods which 
ought to go quite free, and the practice is generally condemned. 

Search at sea is extremely annoying, and ships entirely innocent of 
contraband are often subjected to great inconvenience. That must be 
endured; to attempt to resist or escape would make them liable to con- 
fiscation, whatever their cargo might prove to be. Only properly com- 
missioned vessels, however, are entitled to hold up merchantmen for this 
purpose. Another kind of meddling in war for which a neutral citizen 



314 BLOCKADE OF CUBAN TORTS. 

may bo puiii.shod by confiscation, but for wliirli Lis government is not 
held responsible, is blockade runuinj^. 

A blockade, suck as we maintained around Cuba, is establisbeil by 
stationing war vessels at the entrances of harbors and at intervals along 
the blockaded coast. Its purpose is to cut off supplies and sto]) all com- 
munication Avith the enemy by sea. The merchant ships of all nations 
are therefore forbidden to pass or CA'en to api)roach the line, and the 
penalty for disobedience is the confiscation of both ship and cargo — 
whether the latter is contraband or not here makes no difference. If 
the ship does not stop when hailed she may be fired upon, and if she is 
sunk while endeavoring to escape it is her own fault. And unlike vessels 
merely guilty of earning contrabacd, she is no less liable to seizure on 
her return voyage, after her cargo has been disposed of. Altogether, 
blockade running is perilous business. It is usually attempted under 
cover of night or stormy Aveather, and it is as full of excitement and 
adventure as war itself. The motive is usually either to take advantage 
of famine prices, or to aid the enemy by bringing supplies or cariying 
dispatches.. 

Neutral ships, however, are entitled to some soi-t of warning that a 
blockade exists. Notice is therefore sent to all neutral governments, 
announcing the fact and stating exactly the extent of coast covered. 
Besides thi.s, until the blockade has lasted for some time and thus has 
become generally known it is customan- for the officers of the blockading 
fleet to visit and warn OA-ery ship that ajiproaches, the warning, Avith the 
date, being entered upon her register. If, after that, she approaches the 
forbidden coast, she is liable to confiscation — though possibly great 
stress of weather miglit excuse her jjrovided she landed no cargo. In- 
stnictions of this sort Avere issued by President McKinley to onr squad- 
ron blockading Cuba. A reasonable time, also, Avas granted )o ships that 
were lying in Die blockaded i)orts at the time Avhen tiie blockade was 
declare<l, to make tlieir escape. President McKiiiley allowed tliii-ly 
days for this jjUiTxtse, Avhidi Avas unusually liberal. 

Nations engaged in Avar have shiih t iines assumed tiiat (ii(\v could 
establisii a blockade by simply issuing a proclamation forbidding neu- 
trjils to ai)proa.cli the enemy's coast, Avithout stationing shi])s to enforce 
it. For example, during the Nai)oIeonic Avars, France declared the whole 
coast of England to be bh)cka(hHl at a time Aviien she scarcely dared send 
fmt a ship from her ports, liaving been soundly thrashed at Trafalgar. 
I?nt tliese "pajx^r blockades" tu'e a mere wa.ste of time and ink. They 
are iu)t valid, and except in the Avay of angry- and contemptuous protest, 



BLOCKADE OF CUBAN TORTS. 315 

no nation would consider them worthy of the slightest attention. If 
Spain, for instance, should attempt a desperate game of bluff by declar- 
ing New Orleans, New York and Boston under blockade, all neutral 
ships would come and go just the same, and she would meddle with them 
at her peril. This question — if it ever was a question — was finally 
decided by the epoch-making convention of the powers at the close of 
the C5rimean war (treaty of Paris, 1856), which, along with other rules 
that have revolutionized naval warfare, declared that "blockades in 
order to be binding must be effective." This means that they must be 
maintained by a force actvially stationed on the blockaded coast, strong 
enough to make it decidedly dangerous to attempt to run through. The 
temporary' absence of some of the ships, however, either in pursuit of 
an enemy or on account of a violent stonn, would not invalidate the 
blockade, and ships seeking to take advantage of such an opening would 
be liable to the full penalty if caught. 

And now, a few words about "prizes" — a particularly interesting and 
timely theme, for during the very first week of the war our fleet captured 
no fewer than fifteen of them. 

In time of war properly commissioned ships are entitled to capture 
not only the armed vessels but also the helpless merchantmen of the 
enemy. It does seem a good deal like piracy, but it has been the uni- 
versal practice from time immemorial. These captured vessels are taken 
to some convenient port of the captor's own counti'y that the courts may 
pa.ss judgment on them, and if there has been no mistake made in the 
seizure they are forthwith condemned as "lawful prize." Then they are 
sold, and "prize money" is awarded the captore in proportion to the value 
of the prize. The cargo is treated in the same way, unless it happens 
to belong to a neutral, in which case it is free; though the owner must 
put up with the iucouveuience and dela3' resulting from the seizui^e, 
since he deliberately toot that risk when he placed bis goods in a hostile 
craft. FoiTuerly his property was sometimes confiscated under these cir- 
cumstances, but the treaty of Paris, already mentioned, put a stop to 
that. Formerly, too, the goods of enemies could be taken from neutral 
ships and confiscated in the same manner as contraband of war, but the 
treaty of Paris made an end of that also. 

Another excellent rule adopted on that notable occasion abolished 
privateering. Privateers were armed ships belonging to private citizens 
who had obtained from their own government a commission (letter of 
marque) which authorized them to make prize of th& enemy's merchant 
A'essels and appropriate the proceeds. The abolition of privateering was 



31G BLOCKADE OF CUBAN PORTS. 

a lonj:; step in the right direction, for the privateer's motive was mainly 
plunder, and the whole business was really dose kin to piracy. Neither 
the United States nor Spnin sifjned the orifjinal ajjreement, but both 
have acceded to it now — Spain, evidently, very much a;;ainst her will, 
for her citizens thirsted for the rich booty of our commerce, a fact which 
makes supremely ridiculous lier craz}' ravings against our legitimate 
cai)tui'es as "Aniciican ]>ira(y." 

Distribution of Prize Money. 

The prize money adjudged to caiilors is dislrihulcd in the fdllnwiug 
proportions: 

1. The commander of a fleet or squadron, (inc-l wcutieth ])ar1 nf all 
prize money awarded to any vessel or vessels under his immediate com- 
mand. 

2. To the commander of a division of a fleet or S(iua<lron, a sum 
equal to one-liftietli of any ini/.c niDUcy awarded lo a vessel of the 
division under his comnuuid, to l)e paid from the moiety due the I'nihMl 
States, if there be such moiety; if not, from the amount awarded the 
captors. 

3. To the fleet cajitain, oiie-hundredth jiart of ail ]iii/.e money 
awai'ded to any vi'SS(d of the lleet in wiiirli he is sei'vlng, in w liic ii rase 
lu' shall share in ]>ropoi'tion to his jiay, ^\ il ii t lie o1 jiei* oflicers and men ou 
boai'd such \'essel. 

4. To the commander of a single vessel, one-tenth of all tiie jirize 
money awarded to the vessel. 

."). Afti'r the foregoing deductions, tlie residiu' is distributeiV among 
the others doing dniy on hoard, and lioiiie njioii flie hooks of ilie sliij), 
in i)ro])<)rtion to their respective rates of pay. 

All vessels of the navy within signal distance of the vessel making 
the capture, aiul in such cr)ndition as to he a hie to render efTe<tive aid if 
re(|uired, will share in the ])rize. ,\ny jieisnn leinporarily absent from 
Ids vessel may slnwe in the captures maile during his absence. Tin- ]irize 
court detenuines what vessels shall share in a prize, an<l also whether 
a jii'ize was sujieiioi- oi- inferioi- to the vessel or vessels making the 
capture. 

The share of jirize money awarded (o llie fnile.j Stales is set apart 
forever as a fund f<ir I lie payment of jteiisious to naval oOicer.s, seamen 
and marines entitled to pensions. 



CHAPTER XLV. 

SPANISH DISSENSIONS AT HOME. 

Spain Thretitt'ued with Interior Difficulties— Danger that the Crown Might 
Be Lost to the Baby King of Spain — Don Carlos and the Carlists Are 
Active — Castelar Is Asked to Establish a Republic — General Weyler as 
a Possible Dictator — History of the Carlist Movement and Sketch of 
"the Pretender." 

While these events were in progress iu the international relations 
of the United States and Spain, with a threat of a hopeless war hang- 
ing over the latter, the embarrassments of the govemment of the 
peninsular kingdom as to the conflict of its own affairs at home multi- 
plied daily. Altogether aside from the prospective operations of the 
war itself the (Jueeu Regent and her Ministry had more than one local 
difficulty to face. 

It was frankly recognized in their inner councils that a succession 
of Spanish defeats, iu all probability, would lose the throne to the 
dynasty and that the boy king would never wear the crown of his 
father. A second threat of danger was that iu the midst of difficul- 
ties abroad there would be an uprising of the adherents of Don Carlos 
"The Pretender," who w"ould take advantage of the situation to start 
a civil war and seize the authority. In addition to all this, the repub- 
licans of Spain, growing more restless under the misgovernment they 
saw, united in an address to Castelar, who was formerly the president 
of the Spanish republic, urging that he declare the republic again 
established and promising to support him in such a movement. The 
names of 20,000 of the best citizens of Spain were signed to this re- 
quest, and it was an element of danger to the monarch}^ that was well 
recognized. Finally, the partisans of General Weyler, who comprised 
a large element of the proudest and most influential peojfle of Spain, 
showed distinct signs of a desire to establish a dictatorship with that 
ferocious general as the supreme • authority. He had been recalled 
from Cuba as a rebuke and in order to alter the iJolicies which he had 
established there. His friends were ready to resent the rebuke and 
offer him higher place than he had had before. 

317 



318 SPANISH DISSENSIONS AT HOME. 

Don Carlos and the Carlists. 

Spain has beeu the sceue ()f mauy revolutious, a fact easily under- 
stood when the character of the gfovernment is known. Dishonesty 
and oppression in an administration always breed the spirit of re- 
bellion. Don Carlos, who re<>ards Alfonso as a usurper, and believes 
himself the true Kino- of Spain, issued, April 13, from his retreat in 
Switzerland, a manifesto to his supporters. In this he arraigne<l the 
government, sought to inflame the excited Spanish iM)pulace against 
the Queen Kegent, her son and her ministers, and declared that they 
had permitted the Spanish standard to be dragged in the mud. He 
said in part: 

Twenty yt-ais til' patriotic retirement have proved that I am neither am- 
bitious nor a consi)irat()r. The greater and better part of my life as a man 
has been spent in tlu- dillicult task of restraining my natural impulses and 
those of my enthusiastic Carlists, whose eagerness I was the lirst to api)re- 
ciate, but which nevertheless I curbed, althongh it rent my heart to do so. 
To-day national honor speaks louder than anything, and the same patriotic 
duty which foruuMly bade me say "Wait yet a while," may lead me to cry, com- 
manding the ('arlists, "Forward," and not only the Carlists. but all Sitauiards, 
especially to the two national fon-es which still bravely withstand the enervat- 
ing femininities of the regency, the ix'ojile and the army. 

H the glove whicli Washington has Hung in the face of Si)ain is pieked up 
bv Jbidrid 1 will (imtinne the same ex.'imide of abnegation as before, wretched 
in that I cannot partake in the struggle otlier than by jjrayers and by the in- 
fluence of my name. I will ai)i(laud from my soul those who have the good 
fortune to face the fire, and I shall consider those Carlists as serving my 
cause who endiark in war against the United States. 

lint if everything leads me to fear lliat the policy of humiliation will again 
prevail, we will snatcli the reins of government from those who arc unwortliy 
to hold tlieni and we will occujiy thcii' iijaces. 

"While their leadei' was talking in this strain, his supporters were 
preparing to act. They believed that the conditions for a revolution 
were more favorable than they had been for years, that the present 
dynasty was (loomed, and that Spain would be forced to choose be- 
tween republicanism and Don Carlos. The only chance, they .said, for 
the retention of the present dynasty, would be for Spain to defeat the 
United States, and they were not so blind as to b(dieve that such would 
be the outcome of a war between the two powers. 



SPANISH DISSENSIONS AT HOME. 319 

Ready for Action, 

Don Carlos himself believed that the time had come to act. He 
journeyed to Osteud, where he consulted Avith Lord Ashburnham and 
other Catholic Englishmen who were his supporters, and mapi^ed out 
a plan of campaign. He stood ready at any convenient moment to 
cross the frontier and place himself at the head of his supporters. 

Never since there was a pretender to the throne of Spain, and Don 
Carlos is the third of the name, had the outlook been so favorable for 
the fall of the constitutional monax'chy. 

Discontent has been widespread in Spain and it has been fomented 
by the Carlists, with a splendid organization, with more than 2,000 
clubs scattered in various parts of the kingdom. 

Causes for discontent have not been lacking, and the Cuban and 
Philippine revolts, together with the threatened trouble with the 
United States, were not the only reasons for populai* dissatisfaction. 
Spain was bankrupt and found it difficult to borrow money from the 
money lenders of London and Paris. With the increased expenses 
due to the revolution there had been a decrease in receipts for the 
same cause — the usual revenues from Havana being lacking. The 
people were poor and thousands of them starving. Additional taxa- 
tion was out of the question, for the people were taxed to the limit. 

These were the causes to which the strength of the Carlist agita- 
tion was due. And that it was strong thei-e can be no doubt. The 
birthday of Don Carlos, March 30, was celebrated this year with an 
enthusiasm and unprecedented degTee of unanimity throughout the 
kingdom, and the government did not feel itself strong enough to in- 
terfere with them. 

Toasted as King. 

There were hundreds of fetes in cities, towns and villages, and 
many of them were held in the open air, where the pretender was 
toasted as "El Key" or "the king," and Alfonso was ignored. 

This inaction could be due only to the fact that the government 
was powerless. To say that they did not fear Don Carlos- would be 
ridiculous, as the latest manifesto of Don Carlos was suppressed, and 
the government was really in fear and trembling. A more plausible 
reason would be^that the ministry wished to be in the good graces of 



320 SPANISH 1>1SSE^■S1U^"S AT UOMK. 

Don Carlus should he wiu, aud thej' were not ready to trii^^l tht-mselves 
to absolute loyalty to the present dynasty. 

Meanwhile, as this chapter is written, reports from Spain tell of 
unprecedented Carlist activity. They are arming themselves. Arms 
are pouring across the frontier in such quantities as to show that the 
Carlists are preparing for an early rising, tuul all of the actions and 
utterances of the leader show that tliey ai*e only waiting for a favor- 
able opportunity to begin the revolution. Strong proof of this is to 
be found in the fact that since Don Carlos secured his second wife's 
vast fortune he has been penurious, and it is not believed that he 
would spend money in arms unless he believed the expenditure would 
bring about some practical advantage to his cause. 

His agents have been working among the army officers, and it is 
said that they have secured many recruits for their cause. The throne 
of Spain, like the throne of Kussia, during the last century, or that of 
Kome in the days of the empire, rests largely upon the army, aud if 
the army, discontented and dissatisfied as it certainly is, were to re- 
volt, Don Carlos' success would be almost certain. 

Ever since his marriage in is;)4 with tlie Pnncess de Koliau, who 
brought him a large fortune, Don Carlos has been watching a favora- 
ble opportunity for a coup. There cannot be a better one than that 
which will be offered when Spain is defeated by the Uuitcnl States, 
and it would not be surprising to see Don Carlos unfurl his banner to 
the breeze aud call for troops to rally to his standard. 

Those who are supporters of the pretensions of Don Carlos believe 
they have right on their side. His supporters Imc liiin wi(h the 
loyalty of the legitimists to the house of Stuart during the iieriod he- 
fore the restoration in England. His personality is attractivi'. il<' 
lias all tlie elements of personal i)opularity with tiie masses. He is 
brave and dashing. He does not sit and weep over the fallen glories 
of his race, but he is always ready for action. lie is ready at any mo- 
ment to lead an army in a forlorn cause aud will light for what he be- 
lieves to be his rights. 

Flower of Spain. 

Tlie position occupied in S|KUiisli affairs by Don Carlos is similar 
to that occupied by Prince Cliarles Edward toward the throne of 
(Jreal Britain during the last century. His family ha.s been dispos- 
bessed for jil.niit (hi- same length of lime and he has made a fight just 




ADMERAL PASCUAL DE CERVERA 




A COMMON SCENE IN HAVANA -CUBA 



Sl'ANISH DISISENISIONH AT HOME. 331 

as romantic, but with more brilliant prospects, and at the head of the 
heroic highlanders, dwellers in the Basque mountains. His followers 
are the flower of Spain, the most aristocratic families in the kingdom, 
willing to risk all in his support, setting property and life itself as 
worth naught compared with their honor. 

There have been three Carlist pretenders to the throne of Spain. 
The first was Carlos V., born in 1788. lie laid claim to the throne on 
the death of his brother, Ferdinand VII., in 1833. 

Fei'dinaud had had a stormy reign, torn by dissensions between 
the court and the popular party. Napoleon compelled him to resign 
in favor of Joseph Bonaparte, but he returned to the throne of his an- 
cestors upon the fall of Bonaparte. Dunng twenty-eight years he 
married five wives in succession. By four of these he had no children, 
but a daughter was born to the last, who had been Princess of Naples. 
She secured an absolute mastery of the king, who was an imbecile un- 
fitted to reign. The heir apparent to the throne was the grandfather 
of the present Don Carlos, Carlos V., the brother of Ferdinand. Be- 
tween Carlos and his brother there had been a long enmity. 

Christina used her influence with her husband to persuade him to 
disinherit his brother. By the Salic law females were excluded fi-om 
iidieritiug the throne of France. But through the influence of Ferdi- 
nand and his spouse the cortes was persuaded to repeal the law, the 
more willingly since Carlos was in favor of absolutism, while with a 
woman as ruler the chances would be better for the perpetuation of 
constitutionalism. The Carlists claim that during the last days Fer- 
dinand repented his act and issued documents which would have 
established Carlos' right to the succession, but that these w^ere sup- 
pressed. However that may be, upon the death of Ferdinand his baby 
daughter was declared Queen of Spain, with her mother a.s regent. 

For five years there was civil war. The youth and weakness of 
the baby queen proved her strength. The liberals believed that with 
her as the nominal ruler the continuance of the constitutional mon- 
archj' would be assured. For the same reasons France and England 
supported Isabella. These were odds against which Carlos could not 
effectually fight, and in 18G9 he retreated from Spain, and the his- 
torians treat the succession as settled in favor of the young girl, who 
even at that time was not in her teens. 



3-22 SPANISH DISSENSIONS AT UOME. 

Queen Isabella's Reign. 

Isabella II., or ratlicr her nioilicr, for the latter was the real ruler, 
did not rule witli pnuleuee. Srandals disjjraeed the wigu, and h-d 
to till' regent's removal from the regency, (iiieeu Isabella's ill-fated 
marriage and other intrignes led ti> domestic disttirbames whieli kejjl 
alive the jirelensious of the Carlists. 

I'lHiU the death of the first pretender, in 1853, a second arose in 
the person of his son, Don Carlos, Count de Montemolim. lie at- 
tempted to enuse a revolution in 18G0, but was an-estcnl with his 
brother, and thej^ were not liberated until tliey had signed a renuncia- 
tion of their claims to the throne. 

Tlic sccdiid i)retender died in 1801, and then the lu-esi-nt Don Car- 
los arose, lie was the son of Don Juan, and a brother of the two who 
had renounced their claims to the Spanish throne, and he claimed 
that their renunciation could not be binding on him. This was the 
Don Carlos who is now the leader of the legitimists, and he has never 
renounced his claim to the throne of his ancestors. 

His name in full is Don Carlos d<' lbs Dolores .luiiii Isidoro .Idscf 
Francisco (^uirino Antonio Miguel Cabriel IJafael. He \\-as born in 
the little village of J.,aibach in the Austrian Alps, while his parents 
were on a jouraey through the country, and from his infancy his 
career has been stirrounded with a romance which has endeared him 
to the hearts of his fcdlowers. His father, Don Juan, was an exile from 
Spain and a royal wandci'cr seeking a place \\ here hi- could cud his 
life in jicacf. 

lie and his wife were befriended by the Kmi»eror Ferdinand of 
.\nslria, who place«l tlie young Don Carlos under the care of a Spanish 
l>riest, who educatcil him for thi' priesthood. Even in his infancy he 
cared nothing to become a i)riest in spite of his devout devotion to the 
Iloman Catholic faith, but dreamed of the ilay when lie would rule as 
King of Spain. 

Don Carlos was only seventeen yenrs of age w lien he met and fell 
in love with Margaret, the (biughter of (In- Duke of Tarma. She was 
only fourteen, and the mother of tJie young prince persuaded them to 
postpone the marriage for thrcv years. With his wife the pretender 
received a large fortune and he has been able to mainlain a court in 
the semblance of royalty for several years. 

Thirty years ago Carlos might have been king. The crown was 



SPANISH DISSENSIONS AT HOME. 323 

then offered him by Prim and Sagasta, who journeyed to London for 
the purpose. They said it should be his if he would support the lib- 
eral constitution proposed for the counti'y and would favor the sep- 
aration of church and state. It was the latter idea that led to his re- 
jection of the proffered honor. His strict Roman Catholic training 
made him refuse, for religion was more .to him than anything else. 

Carlos' Scornful Refusal. 

"When I come to my tlirone," he declared, "I shall rule my land as 
I see fit." 

These were the words with which he scornfully s])urned their 
offer. 

The republicans never forgave him, and later when, after the de- 
thronement of Isabella, his name was again proposed in the cortes by 
his supporters, Prim and Sagastxi were his most bitter enemies. 

On Don Carlos' behalf, insuiTections — speedily repressed — took 
place in 1869 and 1872. But the insuiTection headed by him in person 
in 1873 proved much more formidable and kept the Basque provinces 
in a great confusion till the beginning of 1870, when it was crushed. 

Before the commencement of the war of 1872-76, Don Cai'los de- 
fined clearly his position and views in various manifestoes addressed 
to the i>eople of Spain. He declai'ed that with him the revolutionaiy 
doctrine should have no place. Wh'at Spain wanted, said Don Cai-los, 
was that no outrage should be offered to the faith of her fathers, for 
in Catholicity reposetl the truth, as she understood it, the symbol of 
all her glories, the spirit of all her laws aad the bond of concord be- 
tween all good Spaniards. What Spain wanted was a real king and 
a government worthy and energetic, sti-ong and respected. 

The opportunity for Don Carlos was found in the troublous times 
that led to and followed the abdication of Amadeo I., Duke of Aosta, 
who had been elected by the cortes. The four years' war commenced 
in spring, 1872, and a year later Amadeo abdicated in a message say- 
ing that he saw Spain in a continual struggle, and the era. of peace 
more distant; he sought remedies within the law, but did not find 
them; his efforts were sterile. 

Thereupon the tn'o chambers combined as tbe sovereign power of 
Spain and voted for a rei:)ublic. The two yeai's of the republic were 
the stormiest in Spanish history, and it was then that the Carlists made 
the greatest progress. They numbered probably one-third of the peo- 



324 SPANISH DISSENSIONS AT HOME. 

pie of Spain. A republic was not suited to the disposition of the 
Spaniards, and Castelar, who Lad the helm of the ship of state, gave 
up his task in disgust. Then Alfonso XII., son of the exiled Isabella, 
was proclaimed heir to the throne. Alfonso XIII., is his son. 

Alfonso XII.'s first task was to suppress the Carlists, and in this 
he sHcceedeil. The jx'ople were tired of the continual strife. Koyal- 
ists and republicans alike welcomed the new monarch. 

The number of his followers gradually dwindling and finding that 
continued resistance would be unavailable, Don Carlos was finally 
convinced that it would be useless to continue the struggle. So early 
in 1876 his army disbanded. Accompanied by his bodyguard he 
crossed the l\vrenee.s. As he stepped his foot on French soil he turned 
as if to bid farewell to Spain, but his last words, energetically pro- 
nounced, were: "^'olvere, volvere! I will return, I will retura!" And 
it is the belief of his fidlowers that his time is near at hand. 

His Loyal Followers. 

No man lias iiKirc (levolcd followers. The army lliat fought for 
him during the Carlist revolution was one of the most heroic that has 
ever been gathered together. To his standard came young men of 
good family from ever}' nation. He was regarded as the representa- 
tive of the (dd regime of monarchi.sts, and in his ranks were those who 
hoped for the re-establishment of the now obsolete divine right of 
kings, lie was the head of the house of Hourbon in all Europe. Ex- 
cept for the exi.stence of Maria Theresa, daughter of Ferdinand of 
Modena, mariied the Pi-ince Louis of Havaria, Don Carlos would be 
the legitimate rejjresentative of the royal house of Stuart, ajid, barr- 
ing the English act of settlement, King of Great IJritain and Ireland. 

This fact may have had .sometliing to do with the cold shoulder 
that was tui-ued to him by all of the powers of Eunfpe. Don Carlos 
wa.s regarded as the reprit<entative of the half-dozen pretenders to 
the throne who live in exile amid little courts of their own and build 
air castles peopled with things they will do when they mount the 
thrones of which they believe themselves to liavc been defrauded. 

The Carlists believe that with the sujtport of one of the great gov- 
i-rnments they would have won. But they could obtiun no recogni- 
tion even of tlieir belligerency, and tliat was in spite of the fact that, 
a.s early as ISJ'A, the jiresideut (»f the Spanish K<'public has declared 
in the eortes: "We liave a real civil war. * * * It ha.s a real ad- 



SPANISH DISSENSIONS AT HOME. 325 

ministrative organization and collects taxes. You have presented to 
you one state in front of another. It is in fact a great war." 

Yet in spite of this declaration and in spite of the fact that the 
five successive heads of the Madrid government recognized the bel- 
ligerency of the Carlists by conventions; that treaties were made for 
the running of railroads and for other pui*poses, and that the Carlists 
had a mint, postoffice and all of the equipments of a regular govern- 
ment, recognition was withheld by the powers. Evers'thing depended 
upon England, and General Kirkpatrick, a brigadier general in the 
civil wai*, who represented the Carlists as charge d'affaires at London, 
was unable to secure tliat boon from Gladstone, and none of the con- 
tinental powers would act until England had led the way. 

After his retirement from Spain, when the war had exhausted hrs 
resources, Don Carlos lived humbly and quietly at Paris. He had 
ceased to love his wife and they led a miserable domestic life. ' He 
would sell his war horse and fling the money to her on the bare table, 
telling her to buy bread with it. Then his friends would buy the horse 
back again. Once he disposed of the badge of the Order of Golden 
Fleece that had decorated the son of his illustrious ancestor, Charles 
V. The discre<litable part of this action was not so much in the actual 
act of pawning as that he put the blame for it on an old general who 
had served him with fidelity for twenty- years. He claimetl that the 
general had stolen it, imagining that the old soldier^s devotion to his 
interests would induce him to remain silent. But the general at once 
told all of the facts in the case, and also told how Don Carlos had used 
the money to satisfy the demands of a notorious demi-mondaine. 

His financial difficulties came to an endi with the death of the 
Comte and Comtesse de Chambord, who bequeathed the larger part 
of their immense wealth to their favorite niece, wife of Don Carlos. 
The duchess kept the money in her own hands, but gave him all he 
needed. At her death she was quite as provident, leaving the money 
in trust for her children and giving only a small allowance to her hus- 
band, from whom she had live<l apart for fifteen yeai's. 

Married a Fortune. 

This threw the pretender again into financial straits, for he has ex- 
pensive tastes which require a large fortune to support. So he looked 
around for a bride. His followers were startled to hear of his mar- 
riage to the wealthy Princess Marie Berthe de Rohan. The marriage 
took place April 29, 189-1, and, although she was handsome and ex- 



3-36 SPANISH DISSENSIONS AT HOME. 

ceedingly rich aud a. luenibw of the illustrious Itohan family, which 
aloue of aJl tlie noble families of France and Austria has the privilege 
of calling the monarch cousin — it was regarded as a mesalliance by 
all of the Carlists in Sjjain and legitimists evervAvhere. They believed 
that Don Carlos should have not married any but the scion of a royal 
house. 

By his first marriage Don Carlos had five children, among them 
Don Jaime, now in his twenty-eighth year, who is regardetl a.s heir (o 
the throne by the Carlists. Don Jaime is said to i)ossess to a high de- 
gree the strength of will and the determined chiu-acter of his father, 
lie was educated in England and Austria, and is now seiwing in the 
liussian army. Militaiy science is his hobby, and he will be able to 
fight for his throne, as his father has done, if it becomes necessary. 

Don Carlos is now in Switzerland, that home of the exiled from 
other lands, and where he spends his summers. His winter residence 
is at the I'alais de Loredane in A^enice. 

At the present date the Carlist pax-ty is one of the strongest polit- 
ical i)arties in Spain. This does not ai)pear in the representation in 
the Spanish cortes, for under the i>resent system (lie right lo exercise 
the franchise freely is a farce. 

There is no doubt that Don Carlos' popularity is greater than that 
of the little king. The queen is regarded as a foreigner and the king 
is too young to awaJcen any admiration in spite of the fact that every 
opportunity is takeh to make him do so. To ])(>])ularize the little king 
the queen i-egenl jn'omcnades tiic poor child through the provinces. 
He makes childish s])eeches to the ])oiMilace, touches Ihe Hags of the 
vohmteers and in every way seeks to revive the enlhusiasm for tlie 
house of Austi'ia. But without avail. The wretclie<l ])e;isants, ground 
down by taxes, find little to stir them in the sight. 

On the contniry, Don Carlos is a great militnrv liero, whose actions 
hav<' stin-ed the i>eo])le to adminition in spite of liis many ba<l quali- 
ties. 

That the present dynasiy will endiii-e when ;il] of the <'vils from 
which Spain suffers are considered, seems h.inl li> lielieve. I'nless a 
miracle hap])ens or the powei-s bolster u]) the throne of tiie little king, 
the peojde are likely to turn to Don Carlos f()r i-elief. There are those 
who believe that i'ei»ubliciinism is iilso riim]);int iuiil that the Carlist 
agitation masks republican dctctrines, jind thul Weyler will be dic- 
tator. This may be. I?ut Don Cai'los seems nearer the throne than he 
has been at anv time durins: his career. 



CHAPTER XLVI. 

THE PHILIPPINES AND PUERTO RICO, SPAIN'S LAST REMAINING 

COLONIES. 

Threatened Loss of the Asiatic and West Indian Colonies of Spain— The 
Philippines Another Example of the Shocking Misgovernnient of Her 
Outlying Possessions— Interesting Facts about the Philippines— Span- 
ish Oppression and Cruelty— Manila, the Capital of the Islands- 
Manufactures and Trade of the Eastern Archipelago— Puerto Rico and 
Its History— The Products and People— Spirit of Insurrection Rife — 
The Colonies off the Coast of Africa Where Spain Exiles Political and 
Other Offenders — The Canaries, Fernando Po and Ceuta. 

From the very beginning of oiir war with Spain the peninsular 
kingdom had reason to fear that the loss of Cuba would be but one of 
the disasters to befall it in the w<ar with the United States. It was 
recognized in all quarters that the Queen Eegent would have been 
willing to let the Cuban insurrectionists have their island without 
further protest, had it not been for the fact that giving up probably 
would have incited an insui-rection at home, resulting in a loss of the 
crown to her son before he should have a chance to wear it. 

It was quite well understood as a like probability that the Philip- 
pine islands, that splendid colony of Spain in the East Indies, would 
be lost to Spauish control at the same time, and that the island of 
Puerto Eico, the last remnant of Spain's great colonial possessions in 
the Western hemisphere, after Cuba's loss, would gain its freedom 
too. The Queen Regent having spurned the only course in Cuban 
affairs which the United States would permit, with American war- 
ships threatening Manila, it became immediately apparent that the 
other horn of the dilemma which had been chosen was as fatal to 
Spanish sovereignty as the first would have been. 

Even Cuba, with all its abominations, scarcely affords so remark- 
able a picture of Spanish oppression, miscalled government, as may 
be seen in the Philippines. It is only the remoteness and isolation of 
these unhappy islands that has prevented the atrocities there perpe- 
trated from arousing the indignation of the whole world. Readers 

327 



328 TllK IMIlLll'l'IXKS AND IHEKTO RICO. 

are familiar enough ^vith the shucking barbarities practiced iu limes 
of disorder by the Spanish authorities, and tliej do not need to be 
multiplied here, but iu the I'hilippines is demonstrated the utter in- 
capacity- of the Spanish for the exercise of civilized government over 
a dependent province even in times of so-called peace. 

The Philii)pines are extremely interesting in themselves, but are 
selilom visited by tourist.s, partly in consequence of their lyiug out of 
the ordinary lines of travel and partly because of the policy of Chinese 
seclusion cultivated by the government. The climate, too, is un- 
healthy even beyond what is usual in the tropics, and the unsettled 
state of the country-, swarming witli exasperated savages and bandits 
of the worst description, makes excursions beyond the limits of the 
principal cities very perilous. About (100 islands are included in tiie 
grouj), and the total area is consideral)U>— some 150,000 square miles, 
three or four times that of Cuba. Exact data, however, are ditlicult 
to obtain. There are a multitude of insignihcant islets hardly known 
except upon the charts (»f navigators; but Luzon almost equals Cuba 
in extent. Altogether the islands probably contain less than 8,000,0(10 
souls; so tliat Sjianish cruelly finds plenty of raw niatcrial to work 
upon. 

Characteristics of the Population. 

And most of it is raw to the last degree — a medlej' of diverse and 
hostile races, ranging from the puny and dying remnant of the Negri- 
tos, who live like wild bea.sts in the highlands, subsisting u]ion the 
roots which they claw out of the ground, to the fierce and uiisubdueil 
Mohammedan fi-ibes that still keej) uj) (he bloody war of cree<ls which 
raged iu S|)aiu itself for so many centuries. These latter are chiefly 
of Malay origin and many of them are i)rofessi()nal head-hunters, well 
(jualified to retort SpaniJ<h outrages iu kind. There are also Chinese 
in large numbers and half-castes of all varieties. The proportion of 
l>ui-oiieans is small, even in the cities. The resident Spaniards are all 
soldiers or ollicials of some soil and are there simply for what they 
can make b.y extortion and cornipt practices. 

The Philipi)ine islands were discovered in 1521 by Magellan, the 
circuninavigafor, and wi'n- conciuered b}' Spain and made a colony in 
the reign of Thilip II., for whom they were named, luilf a century 
later. Spanish sway never has extended over more than half of the 
l.inn isliuids of the archijielago, (he others remaining under their na- 



THE THILirPINES AND PUERTO RICO. 339 

tive wild tribes and Mohiunniedau rulers. The conjectural area is 
about 120,000 square miles, aud the estimated population about 
7,500,000. About half this area and three-quarters of tliis population 
are nominally imder Spanish riile, but the insurrection has left things 
in a good deal of doubt. The remainder of the people are governed 
according to their own customs, by independent native princes. Edu- 
cation is exceedingly backward. The Eoman Catliolic clergy have 
been industrious, and probably 2,500,000 natives are nominal converts 
to the Christian religion; but education has advanced very little 
among them. There is a Roman Catholic ai'chbishop of Manila, be- 
sides three bishops. 

The history of the Philippines has included a succession of revolu- 
tions against Spanish authority, put down by ferocious warfare and 
crutdty on the part of th§ victors. The conversion aud subjugation of 
the islands were not accompanied by quite the horrors that charac- 
terized the Spanish conquest of South America, but the record is sec- 
ond only to that. Manila waiS captured by the English in 17G2 and 
was held by them for two years until ransomed by the Spanish by a 
payment of £1,000,000. Contests with rebellious tribes, attacks by 
pirates, v(.)lcanic eruiitious, earthquakes aud tornadoes help to break 
the monotony of the history. 

Manila, the Capital of the Colony. 

Manila, the capital city of the colony and of Luzon, the largest 
island, lies G2S miles, or sixty-hours' easy steaming, southeast of 
Hongkong, and twice that distance northeast of Singapore. The pop- 
ulation of the city is about 330,000, of whom only 10,000 — including 
troops, government officials and clergy — are Europt^ans, aud not more 
than 500 are English-speaking people. A few American houses have 
branches in Manila, so that there is an American population of per- 
haps 100. The city faces a fine bay, into which flows the River Passig. 
Most of the Europeans live in Binondo, a beautiful suburb on higher 
ground, across the river. There are many native dialects, but the 
social, official and business idiom is Spanish. The army of Spanish 
civil, religious, militaiy and naval officials is a leech on the people in 
the same fashion as in Cuba. All the places of profit are monopolized 
by them, appointments to choice offices in the Philippines being given 
to those whom it is desired to reward for service to the government in 
Sixain. It is quite well understood that such an appointee is expected 



330 THE PHILIPPINES AND PUERTO lUCO. 

to gain a fortune as rapidly as he cait^ by any nietliod possible, so that 
he may give way for some one else to be brought over from Spain for 
a similar reward. The policy is the same as the colonial policy of 
Spain in Cuba has been, and the wime results have followed. 

But, indeed, inllage of the wretched natives is the almost open aim 
of the government — the sole end for which it is organized and nuiin- 
tained; so why should petty officials be scrupulous. It is the old Ko- 
man provincial system, denounced by Cicero 2,000 years ago, but in 
Spain unforgotten and unimproved. What other use has she for de- 
pendencies, except as a source of revenue wrung by torture from the 
misery of slaves, and incidentally as a battening ground fi)r her sav- 
age wai' dogs? Here the detestable Weyler is said to have accumu- 
lated a fortune of several millions of dollars in three years — more 
than twenty times the whole amount of his salary! 

Tlic methods eniploytnl in this legalized system of robbeiy are mc- 
dia'val in character, but often highly ingenious. One of them is the 
"cedula personal," a sort of passpoi-t. Every person in the islands and 
over eighteen years of age and accessible to the authorities is required 
to take out one of these documents; even the women are not exempt. 
The cedula must be renewed annually and the cost is from |1.50 to |25, 
according to circumstances — the chief circumstances being the vic- 
tim's ability to pay. This in a country where wages sometimes fall as 
low as five cents a day! And any one who h(dds a cedula costing less 
than S;{ is furtln'r required to render the governincnt lifteen days of 
unremunerated labor. 

Instances of Petty Extortion, 

But the cedula is only one device out of many for extracting gold 
from the refractory ore of poverty. A hungry native cannot kill his 
own hog or buffalo for meat without a special permit — which, of 
course, must be paid for. He is not alloweil to press out a pint of co- 
coanut oil fi'om the fruit of liis ow ii (U'cliard until he has obtained a 
license, and this also has its i>riic Tlic orcliard itself is taxed; ev'ery- 
thing is taxed in the Philippines. 

The resident Chinese are further subjected to a sixnial tax— 
whether for existing or for not being something else is not stated. 
They are not popular and are treated with the most shameless injus- 
tice. This the following incident will illustrate. 



THE PHILIPPIXES AND PUERTO RICO. 331 

Fires are very frequent iu Manila and very destructive, most of the 
houses being of wood, while the poorer districts ai'e a mere jumble of 
bamboo huts, thousands of which are sometimes consumed in a day 
without exciting much comment, A tire in the business portion, how- 
ever, arouses more interest; it aifords opportunities that are not to 
be neglected. On one such occasion, where the scene of conflagration 
was a quarter chiefly occupied by Chinese shops, the street was soon 
thronged with an eager mob. The poor Chinamen, acting much like 
crazed cattle, had fled into their upper chambers and locked the doors, 
appai'ently preferring death by fire to the treatment they were likely 
to receive outside. But there was no escape. 

The "rescuers" — Spanish soldiers — quickly broke in with axes and 
after emptying the money boxes, hurled the wretched Mongolians and 
all their goods into the street, to be dealt with at discretion. It was a 
mere pretext for I'obbery and outrage, as many of the shops were re- 
mote from the fire and in no danger. The next morning the middle of 
the street was piled high with soiled and broken goods; and any one 
who eared to bribe the sentries was allowed to carry away as much as 
he pleased. All day long the carts went to and fi'o, openly conveying 
away the plunder. The owners were not in evidence; what had be- 
come of them is not recorded. Such is the "fire department" in Manila. 

Taxes are imposed for "improvements," but no improvements are 
permitted even when backed by foreign capital. The roads remain 
impassable canals of mud, education is a farce, the introduction of ma- 
chinery is frowned upon and progress is obstmcted. 

The natural resources of the Philippines are very great, and under 
a civilized administration these islamls would be rich and prosperous. 
Rut the mildew of Spanish misgovernment is upon evei-j-thing and its 
perennial blight is far more disastrous than the worst outbreaks of 
savagery in time of war. His total inability to maintain an endurable 
government in time of peace is what marks the Spaniard as hopelessly 
unfit to rule. 

Manila has cable connection with the rest of the world, and reg- 
ular lines of passenger steamers. The European colony has its daily 
papers, which are, however, under strict censorship, religious and mil- 
itary, and keeps up with the news and the fashions of the day. Until 
the insurrection of the last two years, the army, except tn'o Spanish 
brigades of artillery and a corps of engineers, was composed of natives 
and consisted of seven regiments of infantiy and one of cavalry. There 
was also a body of Spanish militia in Manila, a volunteer corps similar 



333 THE PHILIPPINES AND PUERTO RICO. 

to that of Havana, wliicli could be called out by the captaiu-geueral 
in the eveut of uoed. 

Spain's Feeble Control of the Islands. 

AVhen the latest in.suiTectiou bejiau, Spaiu shipped to its far-off 
colonj^ all the men who could be spared from service in Cuba, and 
after a few months of fighting it was announced that the rebellion was 
crushed. As a matter of fact, however, Spain has control of but a com- 
paratively small part of the islands, and the natives elsewhere are as 
fi-ee from obligation to pay Spanish taxes as they were before the dis- 
coveiy. Spain has Manila and the other ports and the plantations 
near the cities. Th.e I'est of the country cajiuot be subdued by any 
force that Si)ain can bring to bear, unless the leaders of the insurrec- 
tion choose to lay down their arms. 

Trade restrictions have haniitered (he comiucrcial progress of the 
colony, but in spite of that fact their trade Avith the outside world is 
a large one. For many years after the conquest but one vessel a year 
was permitted to ply between Manila and the Spanish-American port 
of Acapulco. Then the number was increased to five. Then a Spanish 
chartereil company was given a monopoly of the trade of the islands. 
When that monopoly expired, other hoiises began business, and now 
many large English and (Jerman finns share the trade with the Span- 
iards, while Amc'iican houses and American shi])s are by no means at 
the foot of the list. Even now, however, the manufacture of cigars is a 
government monopoly, and only lialf n dozen ports are open 1o foreign 
commerce. Tlie total volume of tlic cxpoHs and imports is about 
§7r>,0(l(V»on annually. 

The manufactures of the I'liilijipincs coiisist cliiclly of textile fab- 
rics of pineapple fiber, silk ami roildii; liats, mats, baskets, rope, fur- 
niture, pottery and musical instruments, ^'(•g('t:;l)le i)roducts of great 
value are indigo, cocoa, sugar, rice, bamboo, luMup and tobacco. Coffee, 
pejtper and cassia grow wihl in sunicicnt (]uaTitity and quality to pro- 
vide a living for those w ho wish to take adviiiilagc of what nature has 
provided. Coal, gold, iron and cojiiicr arc niincil willi i)rofit. The soil 
is exceedingly fei-tile, and althougli tlie cliiiiale is liopical, with little 
change except between wet and dry seasons, it has not bii'n diflicult 
for Europeans to accustom themselves to it. The largest island is 
nearly .jOO miles long and 12") miles wide, while others are more than 
half as large. It must be remembered that the interior of these great 



THE rniLIPl'lNES AND PUEltTO RICO. 333 

islands, aud the whole of hundreds of the smaller cues, are imexidored 
and almost imvisited by travelers from civilized lamls, as Spanish ex- 
ploration has been of little practical value to the rest of the world or 
to science. 

The whole of Spanish authority in the East Indies centers at Manila, 
and the capture of that rich city by (bmmodore Dewey's Asiatic squad- 
ron would be a hard blow to Spain. With Manila, once captured by 
the United States, Spanish commerce in the East would be crippled, 
and it is doubtful if under any circumstances Spain could resume au- 
thority there after the war against the excellent advantage the insur- 
rectionist leaders would have gained. 

Puerto Rico. 

Puerto Rico, the smaller of the tAvo islands belonging to Spain in the 
West Indies, has been a Spanish possession almost as long as Cuba, hav- 
ing been discovered by Columbus in 1493 and occupied by soldiers under 
Ponce de Leon early in the sixteenth century. It is of vast importance 
to Spain, yielding immense crops of tropical products, such as coffee, 
bananas, sugar and spices. Its horses and cattle are valued throughout 
the West Indies and much sought by residents of other islands on ac- 
count of their good qualities. 

Probably- no island of the West Indian archipelago, of which it is the 
fourth in point of size, is more fertile, or so generally susceptible of cul- 
tivation as this. Owing to the gentle slope of its thousand hills and the 
slight dips of the valleys, nearly every poi-tiou is cultivated clear to the 
mountain tops. It is a hilly, even mountainous, island, but without the 
extremely rugged character of Cuba, and this explains the hitherto 
peaceful state of its resident population; for it would be a compara- 
tively easy matter for the Spanish soldiers to run any revolutionists t(» 
earth. 

Puerto Iiico is only 100 miles in length and from fifty to sixty miles 
in bi*eadth, and as square as a dry-goods box. East and west and north 
and south its coast lines run almost as regularly as if jirojected by com- 
paSvS. It is the delight of the sailorman, and its fertile s(nl is the joy of 
the agriculturist. 

The people of Puerto Rico are nearly all Spanish by birth or descent, 
but the former are mainly the alien and governing class and the latter 
the mercantile and agricultural, who are governed more by their pros- 
pective profits than sentimental considerations of ancestry. 



3U. TOE rillLIl'l'INKS AND i'lKKTO KICO. 

'I'lic li;ii-l)or of Sau .hiaii is tlic cliicf in I'licrli) Kico. ami (Hic (if tlif 
bi»st of its size in the Caribbean sea. It is safe and shelteied, larj;e ami 
land-lotked, and though the entrance is somewhat "foul," ships draw- 
ing three fathoms can enter and find anchorage within, good holding 
ground being had at any depth np to six fatlmms. The bay is broad as 
well as beautiful, and opens toward ilic iiniili, so llial a vessel laying 
her coui-se from New York could, if there were no obstructions en route, 
sail directly into the harbor. There is room enough for tlu' accommoda- 
tion there of all the battlesliii>s and cruisers of Spain's navy — with her 
torjiedo Heet and torpedo destroyers thrown in. 

The fortiticatious ^^ liich surround the city of San Juan are, like the 
S[)anish pedigrees, ancient, iiamboyant, beautiful to look at, but as 
woi-thless withal. This city of nlmut 2r),0()0 inhabitants is^ comiiletely 
inclosed within imiiosing walls of stone and hardened nuu'tar from 30 to 
100 feet in height. They have picturesque gates and drawbridges, port- 
cullises and demilunes, quaint old sentry boxes projecting into the sea, 
frowning battlements, and all Hint ; but most of their cannon date back 
from the last century. Soiiic heavy rilled breech-loaders have been 
mounted there lately; but il doesn't matter a i)icayune if tliey are the 
best and latest, nor what (heir enij)hicements are, for then' is a grave 
defect in their eiiuiiunent — the men behind them can't shoot! It is a 
fact, as old as Spanish history, thai Jack Si)aniai(l cannot ]iull trigger 
or lanyard and keep his eyes open at (he sanu' time. lie simidy cannot 
shoot — and there's the end to it. 

San Juan is built on a small island, ccjuiiected with the mainland 
bv a causeway and a bridge, and is an inleresting, lint dirty, city. The 
captain-general and his little court reside here, and (his is headciuarters 
for t lie garri.sons, a military force of about 4,000 being kept herein times 

of peace. 

Ill ancient times tli<- ciiier U>v\ i<v castle was called tin- " rro," or 

Moorish (ower, because i( was generally round; an<l San Juan, like Ha- 
vana, has ils .Morro as (he most iiromim-nl point of its fortifications. It 
stands on a bluff jutting ou( from (he ci(y walls and has a lighthouse 
in, lialely in (he rear of it. .\gainst the seaward front of the mas- 
sive walls (he ocean iionmls and (hnndei's, but (he landward harbor is 
<iuiet and safe for any craft. A broad parade gi-onml is inclosed within 
the walks, westward fmni the ciiadel, and not fai- oti" is I he oldest house 
in the city, no less a siruclure than the ancient castle of Tonce de Leon, 
onetime governor here and discoverer of Florida. His ashes are also 
kept here, in a leaden case, for Tonce the Lion-Hearted was a great man 



THE PHILirriNES AND PUERTO RICO. 335 

in his day and cleaned out the Indians of tliis ishiud with a thorough- 
ness that eaiTied him an exceeding- gi'eat reward. 

Just under the northern \AaIl of the castle is the public cemetery, the 
gate to it overhung by an ornate sentij box, and the bones of evicted 
tenants of graves Avhose terms of rental have expired, are piled in the 
corners of the inclosure. The prevailing winds by day are from the sea 
landward; by night, from the inland mountains toward the coast. Far 
inland rises the conical summit of the great Luquillo, a mountain about 
4,000 feet in height, and from whose sides descend streams that fertilize 
the island. 

It is about ninety miles from San Juan to Ponce, the southern port, 
by a fine road diagonally across the island. The Spaniards generally 
are poor road-builders, but in this island they have done better than in 
Cuba, and one may travel here with a fair amount of comfort to the mile. 
There are several lines of railroads building, a. system being pi-ojected 
around the island 340 miles in length. The area of Puerto Kico is about 
3,600 square miles, vinth a population of 700,000, of which nearly one- 
half are black or colored, and 000,000 cannot read or write. The city of 
Ponce is the largest, with a population of about 38,000, and an export, 
trade of vast extent. It is the chief sugar-shipping point, though it has 
no good harbor, and lies nearly thi'ee miles from the sea. It is a rather 
fine city, with a pretty plaza and a grand cathedral, and its houses, like 
those of San Juan, are all built of stone. 

Other harbors are: On the east coast, Fajardo and Ilumacao; on the 
north, besides San Juan, Arrecibo; on the west, Aguadilla and Maya- 
guez, at the former of which Columbus'watered his caravels in 1493, and 
where the original spring still gushes foi-tli. 

Going with Puerto Rico are two small islands called Culebra and 
Vieque, mainly inhabited by fishermen, but with fine forests of dye and 
cabinet woods to be exploited, it is said. The commerce of the island is 
mainly with the United States. We gained |1,000,000 a year in exports 
to this island for the last ten years, and nearly |3,000,000 in imports. 
With a staple government and under wise control, Puerto Eico -^ould 
more nearly attain to its full productiveness than it does now. As it is, 
the annual sugar yield is estimated at near 70,000 tons; that of coffee, 
17,000 tons, bananas, nearly 200,000,000; cocoanuts, 3,000,000, and to- 
bacco, 7,000,000 pounds. Gold was originally abundant here, and cop- 
per, iron and lead have been fonnd. With enterprise and protection to 
life and property they could be profitably exploited. The climate is su- 



33G THE rilllJIi'lNKS AM» I'L KICTO IIK'O. 

IK'i-b, witli no iii-i-at «'Xtrfiiit' t»f lu-at, Jiml in the hills, wiurt' tlit- coHVl' is 
gruwu, it is ylorioiis. 

Spain's Colonies Reach Far and Wide. 

In case tlit- I'liitetl SiaU-s should attempt to take from t^paiu even- 
fra>;ineut of her oiue inijihty colonial empire the task would be found 
•greater in extent, if not indilliculty, than the averaj;e well-informed per- 
son believes. Mention of the Spanish cidonies is usuallv conlined to the 
I'hilippines, Cuba, Pnei-to IJico — by far the most iniixjrtant of conrse, 
but still not all. The subjoined table will show that there is work for 
Uncle Sam's Heets in several (luai-ters of the world in case the conquest 
of the l'hilii)]iines and Puerto Kico and the libcraticm of Cuba fail to 
humble the rastilian monarchy and peojde: 

Colonial Possessions of Spain. 

Area— Ennlisii 

Possessions in Auierica— s(iiiarf niilis. I'djuihuiou. 

Cil.a 11 .r..V) 1 ,(i.! 1 ,(;S7 

Pucrt.i Uiro :!,liT() .SO(iJ(KS 

Tiilal AiiiiTlciin jiossrssidns J."),;!l!."» li.4;{S,.'!th"i 

I'osscssiiiiis in Asia — 

rhilij.i.inc Islands 1 1 1.:!20 7, ,(MM) 

Sulii Islands it.'O 7.".,()tKI 

Can.lini- Islan.ls and I'aiaos r.C.O ;!(;,(l(tO 

.MaiiaiiiM- Islands 42(1 IU,172 

'I'liial Asiaiic possessions I li>.2."><i 7,1-1,172 

I'nsscssinns ill .\fri(a — 

i;in .!,• ( Mo and Adiai- L'i:>..00(» KMMMK) 

Ifi.i ^7 <;.(MH) 

I'tiiiaiidu I'o, AiiiialM.n. Cnisro, I';|.iIh-.\. S;in .liiaii .... STA) ;{(l,0(H> 

Total Afri.aii pcss.ssions I'i:!.s77 1;{(;,()(I(I 

Total ]H.ss.'ssi..ns KClTiS <l,(;!l.-...'f!7 

The task, liowcvcr. would be simph'r than il seems. Ailiiiiial Krwcy 
cotdd effect the conipicst of all the Asiatic |)ossessiiiiis of S|i:rni. not 




THE QUEEN PEGENT OH SPAIN WITH HER DAUGHTERS AND THE INFANT 

KING Al FONSO 



THE PHILIPPINES AND PUERTO RICO. 337 

counting the Philippines, with the meanest of his gunboats. To take 
the Sulu Islands would hanlly be sufl&cient to give the American Ad- 
miral an appetite for breakfast. The Sulu archipelago lies southwest 
of the Island of Mindanao, and directlj' south of Manila and the Mindora 
Hea. The chief island gives i-ts name to the gi'oup, which extends to the 
three-mile limit of Borneo. The ai'ea of the whole is estimated at 950 
square miles; the population at 75,000 Melanesians. 

The Caroline and Marianne, or Ladrone Islands, are more numerous, 
but scarcely as important or as populous as the Sulu group. They be- 
long to what is sometimes known as MicTonesia, from the (>xtrem(? di- 
minutiveness of the land masses. The tw-o groups are east and northeast 
of the Philippines, and in easy sailing reach fi'om Manila. From east 
to west they are spread over 30-odd degrees of longitude, and from north 
to south over 20 degi"ees of latitude. 

The inhabited islands are of coral formation, generally not over ten 
or twelve feet above high water mark. Th^y are, in fact, heaps of sand 
and seaweed blo^Ti over the coral reefs. Most of these islands are nar- 
row bands of land from a few yards to a third of a mile across, with a 
lagoon partly or wholly inclosed by the reef. The vegetation would not 
sustain a Blue Island avenue goat in the style to which he is accustomed, 
Cocoanuts and fish are the chief reliance of the natives, who are an in- 
ferior species, even for Polynesians. 

First, and most attractive of the African dependencies, both by rea- 
son of natural resources and of their advantages as a naval base, the 
Canaries would attract the American fleet. They are regarded as a part 
of the Spanish kingdom proper, so long and so secure has been the hold 
of Spain upon them. 

More extensive in area, if not more attractive for residence purposes, 
is the sandy, partially desert stretch bearing the names of Kio de Oro 
(River of Gold), and Adrar. The imagiuan- line familiar to schoolboys 
under the name of the Tropic of Cancer has an especial fondness for this 
region, passing near the north and south center. The district is close to 
the Canaries on its northeni edge, and it is ruled by a sub-governor 
under the Governor of the Canaries. There are two small settlements 
on the coast. The only glorj^ Spain gets from this possession is that of 
seeing its color mark on the maps of Africa. 

Of the other African possessions enumerated some are hardly big 
enough to be seen on an ordinarj' map without the aid of a miscroscope. 
Corisco is a little stretch of coast around an inlet just south of Cape St 

22 



338 THE I'niLIlTINES AND ITEUTO RICO. 

.loliii. near the t'cjuator. Feniaiulo I'o Islaml will lie fniind ri;;iit in tlio 
inner crook of tlii' bij^ African elbow. Aiinabon IsUuid is olT Ciipc Ixpcz, 
Another possession or claim of the decadent peninsula monarchy re- 
mains to be catiiloj^^iwl — the e<mnti7 on th«- banks of the Muni and 
CauijK) rivers, (>!>,0(»0 sqmire niile.^ and contuininj; a iK)pulat.ion of .")(I0,- 
000. France disputes title with Spain, but iK'rhaps her sympathy with 
her transpyraunean neij^hbor would ^'o to the len^'th of yielding: [Hisses- 
sion when the United States routs the Spaniards out of eventhinj,' to 
which they Ikia'c an undisputotl title. 



CHAPTER XLVII. 

PROGRESS OF HOSTILITIES. 

Eagerness to Fight — Matanzas P.onibarded — Weyler's P>rotlier-in-Iaw a Pris- 
oner of War — The Situation in Havana — Blanco Makes a Personal 
Appeal to Ciomez— The Reply of a Patriot— ''One Race, Mankind"— 
The Momentum of War — Our Position Among Nations. 

The strikinji' poculiarity at the coraraencemeut of tlie war was the 
genei-al eagerness to fight. There have been wai"s in which there was 
much maneuvering and blustering, but no coming to blows. There have 
been campaigTis on sea and land in which commanders exhausted the 
devices of strategy to keep out of each other's way, but in this war the 
Americans strained strategy, evaded rules, and sought excuses to get at 
the Spaniards. 

Given a Spanish fortified town and an American fleet, and there was 
a bombardment on short notice. Given a Spanish fort and a Yankee 
gunboat, and there was a fight. There were no "all-quiet-on-the-Poto- 
ma(,'" or "nothing-new-before-Paris" refrains. The Americans knew 
they were right, and thej^ went ahead. 

Matanzas Bombarded. 

The first actual bombardment of Gubau forts took place on April 
27th at Matanzas, when three ships of Admiral Sampson's fleet, the flag- 
ship New York, the monitor Puritan, and the cruiser Gincinnati, opened 
fire upon the fortifications. The Spaniards had been actively at work on 
the fortifications at Punta Gorda, and it was the knowledge of this fact 
that led Admiral Sampson to shell the place, the purpose being to pre- 
vent their com})letion. 

A small battery on the eastern side of the bay opened fire on the New 
York, and the flagship quickly responded with her heavy guns. Prob- 
ably twenty-five eight-inch shells were sent from the battery at our 
ships, but all of them fell short. A few blank shells were also fired 
from the incomplete batterv'. 

One or two of those whizzed over Admiral Sampson's flagship. After 

339 



340 TKOGKESS OP UOSTILITIES. 

coniplL'ting their work the ships put out to the opcu sea, the thij^ship 
returiiiijf^ to its i>ost off Havana, wliile the Cineinnati and tlie Puritan 
reniaine<l on piard off Matanzas. 

Wliik^ tlie tiaj^ship New York, her sister eruiser the (Murinnati and 
the monitor Puritan were hxatinj:; tlie defenses of Matanzas harbor the 
batteries guardiu<; the entrance opentil fire on the New York. 

Their answer was a broadside fnnn Admiral Sampson's flagship, the 
first fire being from the forward eight-inch gun on the port side. 

The monitor attacked the Point Maya fortification, the flagship went 
in close and shelled Kubalcaya Point, while the Cincinnati was soon at 
work shelling the fortification on the west side of the bay. 

In less than twenty minutes A<hiiiral Sampson's war shii)s had 
silenced the Spanish batteries. 

The explosive shells from the forts fell wide of the ships. The last one 
fired from the shore was from Point Hubalcaya. 

The monitor Puritan let go with a shot from one of her twelve-inch 
guns. Its effect was s<'en wiien a jtiirt of the fortification went into the 
air. 

The batteiy at Maya wa« the stronger of the two and its fire more 
constant, but all its shells fjiiled to hit our ships. 

Till- target jtractice of the flagship was an inspiring sight. At every 
slmi from hei' batteries, clouds of ilust and big pieces of stone showcnl 
where the Spanish forts wei"e suffering. 

The New York, after reducing the range from over six thousand to 
three thousand yarils, fircil shells at the rate of three a minute into the 
enemy's forts, each one creating Imvoc. 

The Puritan took equally good care of Point Maya. When she suc- 
ceeded in getting the range, her gunners landed a shell inside the works 

at every slint. 

W'lien permission was given to the ( 'iminiiati to take ])art in the first 
Italtle between Yankee and Spanish forces, the cruiser came up to 
within two tliousnnd yards of the shore, and almost imme<liately her 
guns were at work. 

Cadet Poone on the llagship lire<l the lirst gun in aiiswei' In tlie Span- 
ish Itatteries. 

Weyler's Brother-in-law a Prisoner of War. 

The Spanish mail steamer Argonaut.!, Qiptain La^^e, the news of the 
capture of which was telegraphed on May 2, was convoye<l into Key 



PROGEESS OF HOSTILITIES. 341 

West harbor by the United Stiites ciniser Marblebead the following day. 

Colonel Vicente De Cortijo of the Third Spanish cavalry, who, with 
nineteen other army officers, was taJien on the prize, is a brother-in-law 
of Lieutenant General Valeria.no Weyler. 

CVikmel De Cortijo denied this, but it was learned from good sources 
that he sustains this rehitionship to the former governor general of 
Cuba. Ilis captors were measurably elated. 

Transferred to Other Prizes. 

Colonel De Cortijo and the other officers wei"e transferred to the 
Cruido and the privates to the Ambrosio Bolivar, two other ti'ophies of 
the firat week of the war. 

The Argonauta herself was no mean prize, being of 1,000 tons burden, 
but the value of the capture was mainly in the prisoners of wai" and the 
mail matter going to General Blanco. Her cargo was general mer- 
chandise, with a large quantity of ammunition and supplies for the 
Spanish troops in Cuba. 

Spanish Officers Not "Worried. 

The captive Spanish officei"s carried themselves with ahuost humor- 
ous nonchalance, and told the American naval officers that it did their 
hearts good to "see such a gathering of well-fed and prosperous-looking 
men." 

The Situation in Havana. 

A correspondent wrote from IIavan;i, oq the 3d of May, as follows: 

"The dispatch boat succeeded again to-daj^ in opening communica- 
tion with Havana, and your correspondent brought away with him the 
morning papers of j-esterday. 

"The City of 'Havana is a sad sight. There are still a few of the 
reconcentrados about the streets now, but starvation has ciuli-d the 
misery of most of them, and their bones have been thrown info Die 
trenches outside of the city. 

"Staiwation now faces the Spanish citizens themselves. Havana is a 
graveyard. TVo-thirds of the inhabitajits have fleil. The other third is 
beginning to feel tlie pangs of hunger. 

"The prices rival those of Klondike. Beefsteak is |1 a pound. Chick- 
ens are $1 each. Flour is §50 a barrel. Everything is being contiscated 



343 PCOGRESvS OF HOSTILITIES. 

f(ir IJlaufo's jiriiiy. Sleek, well-fe<l jxtsous are daily tlireateued wiUi 
(leutii to uijvke tboni divulge the wliei'eabout.s cif theii' liid<leii stores of 
provisious. 

"Several provision stores in the side streets have been broken into 
and loottnl. General IJIaneo is being strongly urged to sink artesian 
■wells to provide water in the event of a siege, as a joint attack b}' the 
Cuban and American forces would <lestroy the aquinluct. It is not 
thought tJuit I'llaiico will attempt this, as he will not have sutlicii'nl 
time. 

"Blanco has accepted the honorary Presidency of the colored Spanish 
Casino of Havana, and is organizing two battalions of negroes, mostly 
cigarmakers employed in the local Si)anish tobacco factories, to co- 
oi)erate in the defense of tlie city when the expected attack is made. 

Hope for Food. 

"A bulletin posted on the wall of the palace this morning announced 
that the mail steamship Avilos from Xuevitnsa and tlio Cosme Ilerra 
frf)m Sagna anivod last niglit. Ir is also stati^l that the Sj)anish brig 
Vigilante arrived at Matauzas from Montevideo willi food su])])lies for 
the government. 

"The ]>alace of the Ca])tain <Jeneral is i)ract.ically di'serti'd since the 
blockade began. Blanco has iJOi-sonaily t^iken comuiand of Mariena bat- 
tery, and is <lirecting the erection of new sand batteries all along the 
water front west of the enh-ance to Ilaviuia Bay. Lieutenant (leneral 
IVrrado is making (Juanabacoa his heaihiuarters, and is planting new 
batteries and strengtiiening (he forlilicatious as much as jiossible. Over 
300 draymen are engaged in the hauling of sand froiii the month of 
Almandres for use in the construction of Hie carlliworks along tlie 
coast, and in I he rity suburbs ail diayuicu have been ordered |o ic]iort 
for volunteer duty witli their drays. 

"Tlie streets are riotous with half dniiikcn Spanisli volnuieers cryiug 
ffir Aiueriian and Cuban blood. 

"At night the city is wrajiiMiJ in datkuess, all gas and electric lights 
being shut off by onler of Blanco. Spaidsh soldiei-s are tiiking advan- 
tage of this to commit shocking outrages upon un])rotected Cuban faiui- 
lie.s. In spite of these direful circumstances Blanco has ordered the 
decoration of the city, hoping to incite the patriotism of the populace." 



PROGRESS OF HOSTILITIES. 343 



Blanco Makes a Personal Appeal to Gomez. 

On May 4 General Blanco made a supreme effort to win over the 
Cuban forces, writing a letter to General Gomez. A copy of this letter 
and the answer of CJeueral Gomez were found upon Ot)mmander Lima, 
who was picked up by the Tecumseli fifteen miles from Havana, The let- 
ter of General Blanco was as follows: 

General Maximo Gomez, Commander-in-Gbief of the Revohitionarj' Forces: 

Sir — It cannot be concealed from j-ou that the Guban problem has radi- 
cally changed. We Si)aniards and Cubans find ourselves facing a foreign 
people of different race, of a naturally absorbent tendency, and witli inten- 
tions not only to deprive Spain of lier flag over the Cuban soil, but also to ex- 
terminate the Cuban people, due to its having Spanish blood. 

The supreme moment has, therefore, arrived in which we should forget 
our past misunderstandings, and in which, united by the interests of our own 
defense, we, Spaniards and Cubans, must repel the invader. 

General, due to these reasons, I propofse to make alliance of both armies 
in the City of Santa Clara. The Cubans will receive the arms of the Spanish 
army, and with the cry of "Viva Espajia!" and "Viva Cuba!" we shall repel 
the invader and free from a foreign yoke the descendants of the same people. 

Your obedient servant, 

RAMON BLANCO. 

To this General Gomez replied as follows: 

Sir— I wonder how you dare write to me again about terms of peace when 
you know that Cubans and Spaniards can never be at peace on the soil of 
Cuba. You represent on this continent an old and discredited monarchy. We 
are fighting for an American principle, the same as that of Bolivar and Wash- 
ington. 

You say we belong to the same race and invite me to fight against a; for- 
eign invader, but you are nustaken again, for there are no differences of races 
and blood. I only believe in one race, mankind, and for me there are but good 
and bad nations, Spain so far having been a bad one and the United States 
performing in these movements toward Cuba a duty of humanity and civili- 
zation. 

From the wild, tawny Indian to the refined, blond Englishman, a man for 
me is worthy of respect according to his honesty and feelings, no matter to 
what country or race he belongs or what religion he professes. 

So are nations for me, and up to the present I have had only reasons for 
admiring the United States. I have written to Fresident McKinley and Gen- 
eral Miles thanking them for American intervention in Cuba. I don't see the 
danger of our extermination by the United States, to which you refer in your 



ail PK0GKES8 OF HOSTILITIES. 

k'tter. If it be so, history will jiidfic For the present I have to repeat tliat it 
is too late for any understanding between my ai'iuy and yours. 

Your obedient servant. 

MAXIMO GOMEZ. 

One Race — Mankind. 

The reply of Gomez to Blanco will live in history. Blanco's strange 
appeal to the Cuban general was characteristic of a Spaniard. It would 
seem that au iutelligeut man would not have made such an appeal, well 
knowing that it would be useless. For three years Gomra had wage<l 
what to nuiuy seemed to be a hopeless light. After these years of sacri- 
fice he obtaiued the UnittMl States as an ally, an acquisition that 
assured him of final success. Under these cii-cumstances Blanco, the 
representative of the forces against which Gomez had been contending, 
ai)i>ealed to Gomez to join Avith him in an effort to repel the United 
States forces. Such au appeal unde'r the circumstances, in view of the 
fact that Blanco was regarded as an intelligent man, showed the Span- 
iard to be incapable of appreciating the sentiments which prom])ted a 
peo]de to maintain a struggle for liberty. 

General Blanco based his ap])eal upon the claim that the (^iban and 
tile Spaniard belonged to the same race and woi-shiped at the same 
shrine. He sought to stir up within Gome^z' breast racial and religious 
prejudices, and went so far as to suggest, that in the event Gomra 
united his forces with those of Blanco, Spain would give liberty to Cvihn, 
and would "open her arms to another new daughter of the nations of 
the new world who s]>eak her language, profess hci- icJigioTi nnd fct-l in 
their veins the noble Spanish blood." 

Gomez' letter was interesting foi- scvcjnl reasons. To those who had 
pictured him as a coarse, illiterate man this letter was a revelation. It 
w;is not, however, a surprise to those who had carefully studied (romez' 
career iiml wlio iiiidcTstan<l that he was a scholni'Iy man as well as a 
thorough sdldici-. 

"I only believe in one race. manklTid," siiid Gomez, ami that sentence 
will occupy a ccmspicuous place in tiie history of this continent. 

"From the wild, tawny Indian \i> tin- r< IuhmI. hlonde Fnglishman," 
said Gomez, "a nmn for me is i-esii(( Hnl nccm-ding to his honesty and 
ffM'lings, no matter to what count it or race he belongs or what religion 
he i»rofessos. So are nations for me." Such excellent sentiments were 
<loubtless Wiistiil i.ii Ihc SiJiMii:! r^l. loil men of :ill rivili/.cd iiiitious. 



PROGRESS OF HOSTILITIES. 345 

even we of the United States, may find g;i.eat value in these splendid 
expressions by the Cuban general. 

The man who believes that there is but one race to whom we owe 
allegiance, that that race is mankind, and that to that race he owes all 
allegiance, must have his heart in the right place. The man who dis- 
cards the consideration of accident of birth and, apart from patriotic 
affairs, applies the temi "comrade" to all of Ciod's creatures, that man 
has not studied in vain the purposes of creation. The man who forms 
his estimate of individuals according to the manhood displayed by the 
individual, banishing from his mind all racial and religious prejudices, 
must certainly have studied the lesson of life to good, advantage. 

"I only believe in one race, mankind." That is a sentiment that the 
religious instructors and the sages have endeavored to impress upon 
us. But the combined efforts of all the instructors and all the sages in 
teaching of the brotherhood of man have not been so impressive as was 
the simple statement of this splendid patriot wherein he repelled the 
temptation to racial and religious prejudice. 

Mankind is the race, and the honest man's the man, no matter to 
what counti-3^ he belongs or what religion he professes. That was a 
sentiment of Maximo Gomez, the Cuban patriot, the clean cut American, 
a sentiment to which the intelligence of the world will subscribe and 
in the light of which prejudice must finally fade away. 

The Momentum of War. 

As far as the American people were concerned, the destruction of the 
Maine was the beginning of hostilities. The Nation dropped, on the 
instant, the slow-going habits of peace, and caught step to the intense 
and swift impulse of wax*. Great events crowded one another to such 
an extent that we made more history in sixty days than in the preceding 
thirty years. The movement was not a wild drifting, but was as 
straight, swift, and resistless as that of a cannon ball. There was an 
object in view, and the government and the people went straight at it. 

When the Maine was destroyed our navy was scattered, our army 
was at thirty different posts in a.s many States, there were no volunteers 
in the field, no purpose of war in the minds of the people. Tlie Spanish 
hold on Cuba seemed secure; no one thought of Spain's yielding Porto 
Rico or the Philippine islands. The people could not be brought to 
serious consideration of the Cuban question, and they were indifferent 
to the fate of Hawaii. They held back when any one talked of our 



316 PROGRESS OF HOSTILITIES. 

ri<;hts in the Pacific, and had litth- enthusiasm in tJie plans to streni^tlien 
our navy and our coast defenses. All these questions were urirent, but 
the people he.sitated and Congress hesitated witli them. 

The exi)10vsioii that destroyed our battle-ship and slaughteri'd our 
seamen cut everj- rope that bound us to inaction. In a week the navy 
was massed for offensive movement In three weeks |.")0,000,0()0 had 
been placed at the disi>osal of the Presi<leut to forward the prei)arations 
for national defense. In a month new war vessels hat! been purchased, 
the old monitors had been repaired and put in commission, the Ameri- 
can liners had \)ei'n transferred to the navy. In two months war liad 
been declartnl, the reorganized North Athuitic squadron had blockadeil 
CubaJi i)orts, and the regular army was mo\ing hurriedly to rendezvous 
in the South. In another week ILMjOOO vohuiteers were crowding Ihe 
State capitals. 

ITnder the momentum of war we swept forward in a few weeks to 
the most commanding iM>sition we had ever occupitxl among nations. 
\'S'ithout bluster or boast we impressed the w^orld with our strength, 
and made clear the righteousness of our cause. We proved that a repub- 
lic wedde<l to peace can prepare quickly for war, and that a popular 
goveninient is as quick and powerfiil as a monarchy to avenge insult or 
wroiiir. 



CHAPTER XLVIII. 
SEA FIGHT OFF M.\IS"ILA, AMERICANS VICTORIOUS. 

The Eyes of the World Fixed on the First Great Naval Battle of Our War 
with Spain — Asiatic Waters the Scene of the Notable Conflict — Im- 
portance of the Battle in Its Possible Influence on the Construction 
of All the European Navies — Bravery of Admiral Dewey and the Ameri- 
can Sailors of His Fleet — A Glorious Victory for the Star-Spangk*d 
Banner — Capture of Manila and Destruction of the Spanish Fleet. 

Seldom has the attention of all the world been so directed upon an 
expected event in a remote quarter of the globe, as dui-iug the few- 
days at the end of April when the American fleet in Asiatic waiters 
was steaming toward an attack on Manila, the capital of the Philip- 
pine islands. The eyes of every civilized country were strained to see 
what would be the result of the encounter which was certain to come. 

It was recognized frankly by the authorities on warfare every- 
where, that the outcome of this first great naval battle would go far 
toward deciding the fortunes of the entire war, and might terminate it 
even that early in the hostilities. But the importance of the event 
from this point of view, was less than that from another which inter- 
ested the governments of all Europe. This first test of the modern 
fighting machine at sea was expected to furnish lessons by which the 
merits of such vessels could be definitely judged. It might be that 
they would prove far less efficient than had been calculated by the 
lords of the admiralty, and that the millions and millions invested in 
the fleets of Euroi>e would be found virtually wasted. It was this, 
quite as mucli as its bearing on the present war, that made universal 
attention direct itself upon the meeting of the squadrons in the Phil- 
ippines. 

All America rejoiced at the news that came flashing over the ca- 
bles on Sunday, May 1st, when the first word of the battle reache<] 
the United States. Even Spanish phrases could not conceal the fact 
that the encounter had been a brilliant victory for the valor of Amer- 
ican sailors, and the strength of American shipsL A Spanish fleet of 
superior size vii-tually annihilated, a city in terror of capture, the in- 



348 SEA FIGHT OFF MANILA, AMERICANS VICTORIOUS. 

surgent armies at the gates of Manila, the losses of Spanisli soldiers 
aud sailors admittedly great, and finally the sullen roar of discontent 
that was rising against the government in Madrid — all these things 
indicated that the victorj' had been an overwhelming one for the 
Asiatic squadron under Admiral George Dewey. 

As the details of the engagement began to multiply, in spite of 
Spanish censorate over the cables, which garbled the facts as gener- 
ously as possible in favor of the Spanish forces, the enthusiasm of the 
poojde throughout the cities and villages of America swelled in a ris- 
ing tide of joy and gratitude for tlie victorj' that had been given to 
them. From Eastport to San Diego, and from Key West to Seattle, 
flags flashed forth and cheers of multitudes rose toward the sky. 
Around the newspaper bulletins, throngs gathered to read the first 
brief reports, and- then scattered to spread the news among their own 
neighbors. Seldom has an event been known so widely throughout the 
country with as little delay as was this news of an American victoi-y 
in the antipodes. There was a sense of elation and relief over the re- 
sult, and an absolute assurance grew in every one's mind that no re- 
verse to American arms could come in the threatened conflicts ashore 
or at sea. 

A Nation in Suspense. 

But after the first news of victorj' was i-eceived there came a period 
of delay. It was learned that the cable between Manila and Hong 
Kong had been cut, ajid the only means of immediate communication 
was suspended. 

Then came fretful days of waiting and not a. word further as to the 
great battle. To a<ld to the anxiety from time to time came ugly 
rumors about Commodore Dewey bi'ing trapped, and when all the cir- 
cumstances of the case wer(» considered it is not strange lliat some- 
thing like a chill of ai>prehension began to be felt as to the fate of the 
American fleet and its gallant commander. Manila bay was known 
to be mined, and electric connections miglit again have been made. 
The. guns of the fort-s on the landlockwl bay might not have been 
silence<l, and Spanish treachery and guile might have accomplishetl 
what in open battle Spain's fleet luul been unabh? to do. 

But the morning of tlH? 7th of May brought word from Hong Kong 
that sent a tlirill of pati-iotic pride through all America. Our Yankee 
tars had •n«on tlie fight, and won it without the loss of a man. 



SEA FIGHT OFF MANILA, AMERICANS VICTORIOUS. 349 

Eveu those who witnessed the overwhelming victory can scarcely 
UHderstand how the ships and the men of Admiral Dewey's vessels 
came out of the battle unhurt and practically unmarked. 

Soon after midnight on Sunday morning, May 1, the American 
ileet, led by the flagship Olympia, the largest vessel among them, 
passed unnoticed the batteries which were attempting to guai-d the 
wide entrance to the harbor. Each vessel had orders to keep 400 
yards behind the preceding one, and as there were nine vessels, in- 
cluding the two transports and colliers Nanshan and Zafiro, in the 
American fleet, the line was nearly a mile and three-quarters long, 
and at the rate of steaming it was perhaps three-quarters of an hour 
from the time the Olympia came within range of the shore batteries 
until the two transports were safely inside the harbor. 

The Olympia, Baltimore, Ealeigh, Petrel and Concordl passed in 
safety and the land, batteries might never have suspected the pres- 
ence of the fleet but for a peculiar accident on the McCulloch, The 
soot in the funnel caught fire. Flames spouted up from it, and the 
sparks fell all over the deck. The batteries must have been awake 
and watching. Five minutes later, or just at 11:50, signals were seen 
on the south shore, apparently on Limbones point. The flying sparks 
fi'om this boat made her the only target in the American line. She 
continued to steam ahead, and at 12:15, May 1, just as she came be- 
tween the fort at Restiugo and the batteries on the island of Corregi- 
dor she was fired upon by the fort at the south. 

The Boston, just ahead, had her guns manned and ready, and she 
responded to the shore fire with great promptness, sending an 8-inch 
shell toward the curl of smoke seen rising from the battery. This was 
the first shot fired by the Americans. It was not possible to judge of 
its effect. There was another flash on shore and a. shell went singing 
past, only a few yards ahead of her bow. If it had struck fairly it 
would have ripped up the unarmored cutter. This was the McCul- 
loch's only chance to get into battle. She slowed down and stopped 
and sent a six-pound shot at the shore battery and followed imme- 
diately with another. 

The Spaniards answered, but this time the shot went wild. The 
McCulloch then sent a third shell, and almost immediately the Bos- 
ton repeated with one of her big guns. After that the shore battery 
ceased, and the last half of the fleet steamed into the bay without 
further interruption. At no time did the batteries on Oorregidor fire. 



350 SEA FIGHT OFF MANILA, AMERICANS VICTORIOUS. 

-Vll the firing by the Spanish came from the south battorj', which was 
much nearer. Five or six shells were fired by the Americans, and tlu* 
Spanish shot three times, doing absolutely no damage. There are 
conflicting reports among the naval ofiicers as to the firing at the 
entrance to the bay, but it is certain that the McCulloch firetl three 
shots. During this firing, the chief engineer of the McCulloch died of 
nervous shock. 

When Spanish Ships "Were Sighted. 

After passing through the channel the American line moved very 
slowly. The men on the McCulloch were in a fighting fever after the 
brush at the entrance to the harbor, and were expecting every min- 
ute to hear cannonading from the heavj' ships ahead. The fleet crejrt 
on and on, waiting under the cover of darkness, and not certain a.s to 
their location or at all sure that they would not run into a nest of 
mines at any moment. 

It was nearh' 1 o'clock when thoy were safely in the bay. Between 
that hour and 4:30 the fleet, moving slowly in a northea.ster]y direc- 
tion, headed for a point perhaps five miles to the north of Manila. 
After covering about seventeen miles, and with the first light of day, 
the Spanish ships were sighted off to the east under shelter of the 
strongly fortified naval station at Cavite. The batteries and tlio town 
of Cavite are about seven miles southwest of Manila, and are on an 
arm of land reaching northward to inclose a snuiller harbor, known 
as Baker bay. From wliere the fleet fii'st sto])])(nl, tlie shapes of the 
larger Spanish crnisers could be made out dimly, and also the irreg- 
ular ontline of tlie shore batteries beliind. It was evident, even to a 
landsman, that the Sj>anisli fleet would not fight unless our vessels 
iiKiile tlic ;itl;i(k. ciiiiiiiiL; williiii inline of tlie ("avite Itatteries. 

Preparing for the Battle. 

The signaling from tlie tlagshi]> and the linrried movement on 
every deck showed that the fleet was abont to attack. In the mean- 
time the JlcCnlloch rec(«iv(>d her orders. She was to lie well outside, 
that is, to the west of the fighting line, and protect the two cargo ships, 
Nanshan and Zafiro. The position assigned to her permitted the 
American fleet to can-y on their fighting maneuvers and at the same 
time to keep between the Spanish fleet and the three American ships 
which were not qualified to go into the battle. 



SEA FIGHT OFF MANILA, AMERICANS VICTORIOUS. 351 

Governor-General's Proclamation. 

Shortly before 5 o'clock Suiulay morning and when every vessel 
in the fleet had reported itself in readiness to move on Cavite, tlie 
crews were drawn up and the remarkable proclamation issued by the 
governor-general of the Philippine islands, on April 23, was read to 
the men. Everj' American sailor went into battle determined to 
resent the insults contained in the message, which was as follows: 

Spaniards! Hostilities have broken out between Spain and the United 
States. The moment has arrived for us to prove to the world that we possess 
the spirit to conquer those who, pretending to be lo^-al friends, have taken 
■advantage of our misfortune and abused our hospitalities, using means 
which civilized nations count unworthy and disreputable. 

The North American people, constituted of all the social excrescences, 
have exhausted our patience and provoked war with their i)erfidious 
machinations, with their acts of treachery, with their outrages against laws 
of nations and international conventions. The struggle will be short and 
decisive, the God of victories will give us one as brilliant and complete as 
the righteousness and justice of our cause demand. Spain, which counts on 
the sympathies of all the nations, will emerge triumphantly from the new 
test, humiliating and blasting the adventurers from those states that, with- 
out cohesion and without history, offer to humanity only infamous tradition 
and the ungrateful spectacle of chambers in which appear united insolence, 
cowardice and cynicism. A squadron, manned by foreigners possessing 
neither instructions nor discipline, is preparing to come to this arehipelago 
with the ruffianly intention of robbing us of all that means life, honor and 
liberty. 

Pretending to be inspired by a courage of which they are incapable, the 
North American seamen undertake as an enterprise capable of realization 
the substitution of protestantism for the Catholic religion you profess, to 
treat you as tribes refractory to civilization, to take possession of your 
riches" as if they were unacquainted with the rights of property, and kidnap 
those persons whom they consider useful to man their ships or to be ex- 
ploited in agricultural or individual labor. Vain design! Ridiculous boast- 
ing! Your indomitable bravery will suffice to frustiate the attempt to carry 
them into realization. You will not allow the faith you profess to be made 
a mockery, impious hands to be placed on the temple of the true God, the 
images you adore to be thrown down by unbelief. The aggressors shall not 
profane'the tombs of your fathers. They shall not gratify their lustful pas- 
sions at the cost of your wives and daughters' honor or appropriate the 
property that your industry has accumulated as a provision for your old 
age. No! They shall not perpetrate the crimes inspired by their wicked- 



:i:>3 SEA FIGllT OFF MANILA, AMEKICANS VICTORIOUS. 

ucss aud covetousness, because yuur valor ami patriolisni will siillice to 
pimish and abase the people that, claiming to be civilized and cultivated, 
have exterminated the natives of North America instead of bringing to 
Ihem the life of civilization and progress. Men of the Philippines, prepare for 
the struggle, and united under the glorious Spanish Hag, which is ever cov- 
ered with laurels, let us tight with the conviction that victory will crown 
our efforts, and to the calls of our enemies let us o^jpose with the decision 
of the Christian and patriotic the cry of "Vive Espana." Your governor, 

liASILIO AUGUSTIN DIVILIO. 

Exploding the Mines. 

If the C17 of "Remember the Maine" wei"e not enough to put the 
American sailors in a fighting mood as the warships moved forward 
in battle line, the memory of this insulting proclamation helped to put 
tliem on their mettle. 

The Olympia headed straight for the Spanish position a few min- 
utes before 5 o'clock. She was moving at moderate speed. The otJier 
vessels followed in the same order which had been observed in enter- 
ing the bay. The Spaniards were impatient and showed bad judg- 
ment. At 5:10 o'clock there was a puff of smoke from one of theCavite 
batteries and a shell droi)ped into tlie water far inshore from the flag- 
ship. Several shol.s followed, but tlie range was too long. While the 
American ships continued to crowd on, two uplifts of the water far in 
tlie wake of the Olympia, and off at one side, were seen. Tn'o niin(»s 
had been exploded from their land connections. They did not even 
spla.sh one of our boats, but those who were watching and following 
behind, held their breath in dread, for they did not know at what 
moment they might see one of the ships lifted into (lie air. But there 
were no more mines. The Spaniards, in exploding them, had bungled, 
as they did afterward at every stage of their desperate fighting. 

Already there was a film of smoke over the land batteries and 
along the line of Sjianish ships inshore. The roar of their guns came 
across the water. Our fleet paid no attention. 

The 01ym))ia, in the lead, counted ten Si)anish wai-ships, forme<l in 
a semi-circle in front of the rounding ])euinsula of Cavite, so that they 
were both backeil and flanked by the land batteries. The ten vessels 
which made the lighting line were tlie flagships lieina Christina, (liif 
Castilla, the Antonio de Ulloa, tlie Isla de Cuba, the Isla de Luzon, tlie 
El rVjrreo, the Mar(]uis del Duero, the Velasco, the Gen. Lezo and the 
Mindanao, the latter being a mail steamer which the »Spaniards had 




LITTLE ICING ALFONSO OF SPAIN, WHOSE THRONE IS TOTTERING 



3o4 SEA FIGHT OFF .MANILA, A MEKIOANS VICTORIOUS. 

starboard aud then the port guns for a third time, and at this hist, or 
fifth, return for an engagement along the line they were within 1,500 
yards of the Spanish position. Our whole line was choked wiili 
smoke, but still unhurt. The Spanish fleet was already wounded be- 
yond recovery. 

Duel of the Flagships. 

It was during the delivery of this last attiick tliat the Keina Chris- 
tina made a valiant attack. Up to that time not a. Spanish ship had 
left the line of battle. As the Olympia approached. Admiral Montejo 
gave orders, and the Reina Christina moved out from the line to 
engage the big flagship of the American fleet. Admiral Dewey's boat 
Avelcomed the battle. Evein^ battery on the Olympia was turned on 
the lieina Christina. In the face of this awful lire she still advanced. 
The Amei-ican sailors had ridiculed the gunnery of the Spaniards, but 
they had to admire this act of bravery. She came fon\^ard and 
attempted to swing into action against the Olympia, but was struck 
fore and aft by a perfect storm of projectiles. With the Olympia si ill 
pounding at her, she swung around and started back for the protec- 
tion of the navy yard. Just after she had turne<l a well-aimed shell 
fi'om one of the Olymjjia's eight-inch guns stiiick her, fairly wrecking 
tlie engine-room and explo'ding a magazine. She was seen to be (Ui 
Are, but she painfully continued her way toward the shelter of Cavitc 
and contiiiue<l liring until she was a mass of flames. It was during 
this retreat that Captain Cadanso was killed. The bridge wa.s shot 
from under Admiral Montejo. The Spanish sailors could be seen 
swarming out of the burning: ship and into the small boats. Admiral 
Montejo c«cai)ed and transfen-ed his ])ennaiil to the Castilla. lie had 
been on the Casfilla less than live minutes when it was set on fire by 
an exiiloding shell. 

An Attack by Torpedo Boats. 

Toward the cio.se (jf the decisive engagement, and just after the 
Keina Christina had been sent back, hammered to pieces aud set on 
fire, two small toi-])edb boats made a daring atlenii)t to slip up on the 
Olympia. A ]»all of smoke was hanging over the water. Taking 
advantage of this, they darted out from the SjtanisJi lines and headed 
straight for the Ameiican flagship. They were fully 800 yards in 
advance of tlie Spanish line (or more than liiilf of the way toward the 



SEA FIGHT OFF MANILA, AMERICANS VICTORIOUS. 355 

Olympia) when they were discovei'ed. Admiral Dewe^^ signaled his 
men to concentrate all batteries on them. Eveiy gun on the port side 
of the Olympia was leveled on the two little craft which came flying 
across the water. A fierce fire was opened, but they escaped the first 
volley and came on at full speed. The flagship stopped. A second 
broadside was delivered. The torpedo boats were either injured or 
else alarmed, for they turned hastily and started for the shore. An 
eight-inch shell struck one. It exploded and sunk immediately, with 
all on board. The other, which had been hit, ran all the way to shore 
and was beached. These were the only two attempts the Spanish 
made to offer offensive battle. 

How the Officers Fought. 

It would be difficult to describe in detail these first two hoiirs of 
teri'ific fighting. The sounds were deafening, and at times the smoke 
obscured almost the whole picture of battle. The American com- 
mander himself could not estimate the injury to the enemy until after 
he had withdrawn from the first general engagement and allowed the 
smoke to clear away. I'nfortunately, our fleet had no supply of 
smokeless powder. All during the fighting of Sunday morning, Ad- 
miral Dewey stood with Captain Lambertson on the foi-ward bridge 
of the Olympia. He was absolutely exposed to the heaviest firing, 
because the Spanish fleet and the land batteries as well continually 
made a target of our big flagship. Captain Wildes on the Boston, 
carried a fan as he stood on the bridge, and at one time drank a cup 
(if coffee while continuing to give ordei's to his gunners. 

It was 7:45 when the American fleet withdrew out of range, not 
because it had suffered any reverses, but merely to ascertain the dam- 
ages and hold a consultation. 

Not until the commanders had reported to Admiral Dewey did he 
learn of the insignificant loss which his fleet had sustained. Not one 
man had been killed and not one vessel was so badly injured but that 
it was I'eady to put to sea at once. Thi'ough the glasses it could be 
seen that the Reina Christina and the Castilla were burning. The 
smaller vessels had taken refuge behind the arsenal at Cavite. The 
Mindanao had been driven ashore. Already the victory was almost 
complete. The American sailors were wild with enthusiasm. Al- 
though hardly one of them had slept the night before, and they had 
been fighting in a burning temperature, they were more than anxious 



356 tSEA FIGUT OFF MANILA, AMERICANS VICTORIOUS. 

to return to the eujiagemcut and fiuish the good work. It was thought 
best, however, to take a i-est for at least three houi's. The decks were 
cleaned and the guns readjusted, and after food had been ser^^ed to the 
men, the fleet formed and headed straight for Cavite again. The rem- 
nant of the Spanish squadron offered very little resistance, but tlic 
forts at Cavite ouuiinucd their wild efforts to sti-ike an American 
wai'ship. 

Making the Second Attack. 

This time the Baltimore wa.s sent in advance. She headed boldly 
to witiiiu range of the Cavite batteries. By this time the Americans 
had a contempt for Spanish marksmanship. The Baltimore opened 
fire and pounded away for thirty minutes. At the end of that time 
evei-y gun of the batteries had been silenced. Of the Spanish war- 
ships the Antonio de Clloa was the only one Avhich came out of 
refuge to offer battle witli tlie Baltimore and she met with horrible 
punishment. Her decks witc literally swept with shell, but even 
after she was apparently wrecked her lower guns were used willi 
wonderful persistence. 

The Baltimore, having silenced the forts, turned all licr guns on 
the Si)anish cniiser and actually riddled her. She sank and i)rob- 
ably all her crew went down witii her. That was the end of Si)anisii 
resistance. Admiral Dewey ordered his ligiit-drauglit vessels to 
enter the na'\-;\- yard and destroy even-thing that iiiiglit give future 
trouble. Tin- I'.oston, the Concord and the Pclrcl were detailed for 
this duty, but tlie Boston, drawing twenty feet, ran aground twice, 
not knowing the shoals, and had to leave the work to the Petrel and 
tlie f^incord. By tlie time tliesc two vessels reached the navy yard 
tiicy foiiuil Ihc \i'ss('ls llicic ahandoiicil and most of tlicm on lire. 
Tliey destroyed tiie fag end of the Spaiiisii fleet, and when Sunday 
afternoon came there was notliing left above water to i-epreseiit the 
Spanish naval force in Asiatic waters excejit I lie transport Manila. 
The ar.senal had been slielh'd to jiieces. 

Then the Spanish Surrendered. 

At 12:1.") o'cloclv the signal was given tliat llie S]ianisli liad sur- 
rendered. Tlie word was jiassed rapidly from shij) to ship. The 
American sailors were crazy with <leligiit. There was tremendous 
cheering on excry siiij*. The enlliusiasni became even gi'eater when 



SEA FIGHT OFF MANILA, AMERICANS VICTORIOUS. 357 

the word was passed that not one of our men had been killed and not 
one American vessel had been injured. 

The eight men who were hurt by the explosion on the Baltimore 
continued to fight until the end of the battle. 

The Boston was struck once and the officers' quarters set on fire. 

For some reason the Spanish gunners seemed to think that the 
Baltimore was especially dangerous, having the general build of a 
battleship, and, next to the flagship, she had to withstand the greatest 
amount of firing, and was struck several times, with no great damage. 
Except for the torn rigging and a few dents here and there few signs 
could be discovered that the vessels had engaged in one of the most 
decisive naval battles of modern times. 

The Concord and the Petrel were not hit at all, although the latter 
went deeper into the enemy's position than any other vessel in our 
fleet. 

The Olympia made a glorious record. She was struck thirteen 
times, counting the shells which tore through her rigging, but she 
came out as good as she went in. 

The Baltimore was hit more fairly than any other of the ships. 
Two shells pierced her hull, but the commander estimates that the 
total damage is not more than |1,000. 

Loss of the Spanish. 

Compare these trivial losses with the fearful damage done to the 
Spanish. As nearly as can be estimated after canvassing the opin- 
ions of naval officei's, about 400 Spanish were killed or went down in 
the ships, and perhap.s 600 or more were wounded. Eleven of their 
ships were totally demolished, and the Americans captured one trans- 
port and several smaller vessels. 

Their money loss by reason of the battle is placed at |5,000,000, 
to say nothing of the probable loss of the city of Manila and the whole 
group of Philippine islands. 

Admiral Dewey was very magnanimous in his treatment of the 
city. After he had destroyed the fleet he made every effort to induce 
the governor to capitulate without forcing the Americans to bombard 
the capital. The city defenses were weak, and the Americans could 
reduce them at any time. But the admiral did not want to shell the 
city. At the same time that he demanded capitulation he notified the 
governor that if a shot should be fired at the Americans from the 



^.-S SEA FIGHT OFF MANILA, AMEKIOANS VICTORIOUS. 

roiiiiiiniiijj;- battL'rii-s at tlic soiitli of tht- cilv lie wmild lie rdiupelh^d to 
(ijicn tire. 

Diirinj,' tlie naval action a battery of 10-intli t^nns at Manila opened 
an ineffectual tire on our fleet as it was movinji into action north of 
( 'avite. The admiral did not return the fli-e out of mercy for the people 
of Manila, as any shots passing over the shore batteries would have 
lauded in a populous portion of the city. 

On Monday, May 2, the Raleij;h and Baltinioic were sent to demand 
the surrender of the forts at the mouth of the bay. 'I'licsc forls wei-e 
taken without n'sistance. The troojis liad Hcil and oiil_\ llie com- 
mandant remained 1o surrender himself. 

Cutting the Cable. 

In rei^ard to the cutliujj; of the cable, Aduiiral Dewey rejjarded the 
action as necessary, lie sent word to the governor by the British 
consul that if he was permitted to send his dispatches to the United 
States rrovernment the cable would not be cut. The governor refused 
to promise and Admiral Dewey decided to stop all communicalion 
between Manila and Madrid. 

On Monday, when the cable was cut, the commander established a 
marine guard at Cavite to protect the hospitals and the Spanish 
wounded. Surgeons and the hospital corps of the American fleet were 
detailed to care for the wounded Spaniards, and they cared for Iheiu 
as tenderly as if they were brothers in aims iiisleail of eiicinies. 

On Wednesday, May l, several hundred of tlie wounded S|ianiar<ls 
were conveyed under the Ived Cross flag to Manila and wei-e cared for 
in the hospitals there. 

The Spaniards in Manila no longer fi-ared the .\niericaiis, bul they 
were in dread of capture by the insurgents. The ichels were over- 
i-iinning f'avite and pillaging houses. The <(iuntry l);i(]< of .Manila 
was full of biirniiig buildings and wrecked jilanlalions. The icckless 
insurgenls were applying the torch right and left. 

Admiral Montejo's Private Papers. 

The most interesting capture ukmIi' bv tiie .Xnieiicans was a bnndit! 
of ju'ivate i)a]M'rs belonging In Aihniral .Mnnlejo. One of these com- 
municatiou.s, bearing his signal ere, showed that it was liis intention 
to have a general i-eview and inspection of the fleet at 7 o'clock on 



SEA FIGHT OFF MANILA, AMERICANS VICTORIOUS. ,359 

Sunday morning. This proves that he was not expecting the Ameri- 
can fleet so soon. 

Other papers showed that it had been liis intention at one time to 
intrust the defense of Maniha to the laud batteries and take the fleet 
to Subig bay, nor-th of Manila, believing that he could there take up 
a strong position and have an advantage over an attacking fleet. 

According to the reports from Manila the admiral first went ashore 
at Cavite and ha'd his wounds dressed. He succeeded in evading the 
insurgents, who wished to capture him, and arrived in Manila twelve 
hours after the fight. 

There are some very interesting figures as to the amount of firing 
done by our ships during the battle. The Olympia fired 1,764: shells, 
aggregating twenty-five tons in weight. The Baltimore did even 
heavier firing, being called upon to reduce the forts after the first en- 
gagement, and sent no less than thirty-five tons of metal into the 
Spanish ships and the land batteries. The remainder of the fleet shot 
a total of eighty tons of metal, making a grand total of 140 tons. 

What Spanish Officers Say. 

The Spanish officers attribute the American victory to the rapidity 
and the accuracy of our fire rather than to the weight of projectiles 
used. Also, the fact that the American ships were painted a lead color 
and did not stand out boldly against tlie water made them very un- 
satisfactory targets and kept the Spanish gunners guessing as to the 
correct range. 

In spite of his overwhelming defeat Admiral Montejo did not for- 
get the courtesies of the occasion. On Monday he sent word by the 
British consul to Admiral Dewey that he wished to compliment the 
Americans on their marksmanship. He said that never before had 
lie witnessed such rapid and accurate firing. Admiral Dewey, not to 
be outdone in the amenities of war, sent his compliments to the Span- 
ish admiral and praised the Spaniards vei'y highly for their courage 
and resistance. lie said that the Spanish force was stronger than he 
had believed it would be before his arrival at the harbor, and he had 
reallj' expected a shorter and less stubborn battle. It is said that 
this message, although complimentary to the Spanish, did not give 
Admiral Montejo any real comfort. 

The Spanish ships destroyed were: The IJeina Christina, flagship 
of Admiral Montejo; Cruiser Castilla (wooden); Cl'uiser Don Antonio 



3G0 SEA FIGHT OFF MANILA, AMERICANS VICTORIOUS. 

de Ullua; Protoctcd Ciuisi-r Isla do Luzou; Pro tin- ted rnii.ser Isla de 
CMba; Guuboat (Jcncial Lczo;' Guuboat Maiciiiis del Duero; Guuboiit 
El Cano; Gunboat El Vclasc-o; the Hteaincr Miudauau, with .siijiplies, 
burned. 

These were captured: Trauspoil Manila, with supiilies; Guiibnai 
Isabella I; Cruiser Dou Juan de Austria; (Junboat Kapido; Gu?il)(>at 
Ilercuk^; two whaleboats; three steam launthes. 

Sec-retaiy Long sent this dispatch iniuiediatelv lo Actinn Admirai 
Dewey : 

The rresideiii. in I lie name nl ilic Amciiraii lunjilc. llianks .you and ymir 
otlicers and men for your splendid ailiievenienl and overwiichninj; vicloiy. 
In recojinition he has ajipoinled yon Actin<^ Admiral, and will recommeud a 
vote of thanks Id yoii \<y ("onjiress as a foiindalion for ruidicr promotion. 

Dewey's New Rank. 

The Senate unanlnnuisly coiilirnicil the President's nomination 
makinji; Georjje Dewey a rear admiral in the United States navy. Cun- 
{;;ress made the place for him, and the President promoted him. 

He bears on his shoulders two stai"s and an andior instead of two 
anchors and a star. His pay has been increased from §5,000 a yi-ar to 
.?<i,000 a year, wliih^ at sea and uTitil lie retires. He wa.s presented 
with a sword, and nu'dals were struck for his men. His elevation in 
rank, his increase in pay, are <jratifyin<^ tributes to his {jreatnes.s. Put 
there is a rank to which the President could not elevate him, a jtosition 
that UoufH'css could not create, for he created it himself. In tlu' iiearts 
of the peo|de Admiral Dewey is the Hero of Manila, holdin-;' a ]>lac<' 
promler than a kinji's, a jdace in the love and admiration and grati- 
tude of a jjreat nation. 

Greater than Farraj,Mil, sie:>ti'i" !'">•' •'""> ^''catei- than llawke or 
niako or Nelson, Dewey is the {jreatest of tUn't ((inimand* is, the 
<j;ramlest of the her(K>s of the sea. It will be recorded of jiim that he 
was faithful to duty, inn' to his Hag, magnanimous (o his enemies ami 
modest in the Imnr of lrinm])h. 



OnAPTER XLIX. 

HAWAII, AND OUR ANNEXATION roLIOY. 

Location of the Islands— Their I-couhTtion— Ilouoiulu, the Capital and the 
Metropolis— Political Historj — The Traditional Policy of the United 
States — Former Propositions fur Annexation — Congressional Discus- 
sion — The Vote in the House of Representatives. 

A work of this character would bo incomplete without mention of 
the Hawaiian Islands, and their intimate political and commercial con- 
nection with our own country. For many years prior to the commence- 
ment of the war with Spain there had been a gi'owing sentiment in 
favor of their annexation to the United States, and events in Wash- 
ington during the first month of that conflict showed conclusively that 
■ a large majority of the members of both houses of Congress were 
strongly in favor of the measure. 

The Ilawaiians are a group of eight inhabited and four uninhabited 
islands lying in the North Pacific Ocean, distant from Sau Francisco 
about 2,100 miles, from Sydney 4,500 miles, and from Hongkong 4,800 
miles. They are the most important in the Polynesian group, and were 
discovered by Captain Cook in 1788. Their combined area is G,G40 
square miles, and their population is about 85,000. The islands are to 
a great extent mountainous and volcanic, but the soil is highly pro- 
ductive. Sugar, rice, and tropical fruits grow in abundance, and over 
ninety per cent, of the trade is with the United States. 

Honolulu, the capital and chief city, has a population of about 
25,000, and presents more of the appeai-ance of a civilised place than 
any other town in Polynesia. Although consisting largely of one-story 
wooden houses, mingled with grass huts half smothered by foliage, its 
streets are laid out in the American style, and are straight, neat and 
tidy. Water-works supply the town from a neighboring valley, and 
electric lights, telephones, street car lines, and other modern improve- 
ments are not lacking. 

The Independence of the Islands Declared. 

In 1843 the independence of the Hawaiian Islands was formally 
guaranteed by the English and French governments, and for a number 



3C2 JIAW.MI. .Wit (UK A XNKXATK »N ToLICV. 

(if years tlicy were under a ronslitutidiial iiKiuaicli}'. On the death of 
Kiiii,' Kalakaua in ISOI, his sister, the I'riucess Lilinokahiui, sueoeeded 
to the tlirone, and soon proved herself to be an erratic and self willed 
ruler. 8he remained constantly at variance with hei' leijislalure and 
advisers, and in January, 1893, attempted to promulgate a new consti- 
tution, dejjrivinjj foreij^ners of the right of franchise, and abrogating 
the existing House of Nobles, at the same time giving herself jMJWer of 
a]>poiuting a new House. This was resisted by the foreign element of 
the community, who at once appointed a committee of safety, consisting 
of thirteen membei-s, who called a mass meeting of their class, at which 
about l,r)(K) persons were present. The meeting uuanimou'sly adopted 
resolutions condemning the action of the Qurcn, and ajitliorizing a 
committee to take into further consideration whatever was necessary 
to jirotect the ])ublic safety. 

The committee issued a proclamation to the HaAvaiian peojile, 
formed itself into a provisional government, took possession of the 
national ])ro]»erty, and sent commissioners to the United States inviting 
this republic to annex the islands. The United States did not res])ond, 
but continued the old relation of friendly guarantor. 

A constitutional convention held session from ^lay 20 to July 3, 1894, 
and on July 1 the constitution was ])roclainu'd. the new government 
calling itself the "IJepublic of Hawaii." 

In refusing to grant this a]ipeal for ann,'Xa(ion, the onirials a( the 
head of the Uniti'd States government at that time were of the ojiinion 
that such action would be in direct o])))osition to our traditional policy, 
and the same argument has sinci- been advanced by tlic oiiponciits of 
the plan. 

We were thus brought face to face with the qiieslion, "Wliat is 
American jmlicy?" Many statesmen of recent years have declared tliat 
our great growth and increasing importance among nations imposed 
obligations which should force ns to take greater jtart in the alTairs of 
the world. Following the lead of European statecraft, tiny also 
as.serted that we siiould adopt this policy to encourage and protect our 
expanding commercial inten^sts. Not only were we facing i)roblems 
the war directly presented, but other nations seemed tp think that we 
are aJMiut to cast aside the advice of Washington concerning entangling 
alliances, and establish the relation of an ally with (ireat P.ritain. 

Edward Everett foresaw the extension of the republican idea, and 
declared that "in the discharge of the duty dev(dved ujton us b\' Provi- 



HAWAII, AND OUR ANNEXATION I'OLU^V. 3C3 

(lence, we have to carry the republican indepeudence, wliicli (mr fathers 
achieved, with all the organized institutions of an enlii;htened com- 
munitj' — institutions of religion, law, education, charity, art and all 
the thousand graces of the highest culture — beyond the Missouri, beyond 
the Sierra Nevada; perhaps in time around the circuit of the Antilles, 
perhaps to the archipelagoes of the central Pacific." 

The treaty of 1783 with Great Britain defined the western boundary 
of the United States as the Mississippi river, down to the Florida line 
on the 31st parallel of north latitude. The original colonies comprised 
less than half of this area, the rest being organized several years later 
as the Northwest Territory. In 1803 the United States purchased from 
Napoleon for |15,000,000 the province of Louisiana, over 1,000,000 
square miles in area, including Louisiana, Missouri, Arkansas, the 
Indian Territory, most of Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota, the two 
Dakotas, Montana, Colorado, Idaho, Oregon, Washington and most of 
Wyoming. With this cession came absolute ownership and control of 
the Mississippi. 

By the treaty of February 12, 1819, with Spain, Florida was next 
acquired, and Spain abandoned all claims upon the territory between 
the Kocky mountains and the Pacific, embraced in the Louisiana pur- 
chase, Texas was annexed in 1815. Under the treaty of Guadaloupe 
Ilidalg-o, in 1848, which ended the Mexican war, California, Nevada, 
parts of Colorado and Wyoming, Utah, New Mexico and Arizona 
became a part of the United States. The Gadsden purchase of 1S53 
acquired the portion of this territory south of the Gila river. Fourteen 
years later the territory of Alaska was purchased from Russia. 

Territorial acquisition has been the policy of successive periods of 
American politics. Hitherto annexation has been confined to con- 
tiguous territoiy, except in the case of Alaska, separated only by narrow 
stretches of sea and land. But in the case of the Hawaiian Islands an 
entirely different problem confronted us. 

Hawaiian Annexation in History. 

The question of annexation of the Hawaiian Islands has been before 
the American people in some fonn for nearly fifty years. In 1851 a 
deed of provisional cession of the islands to the United States was 
executed by King Kamehameha III., and delivered to the United States 
Minister at Honolulu — the act being subsequently ratified by joint 
resolution of the tAVO Houses of the Hawaiian Legislature. In 1854 a 



3C4 HAWAII, AM) OlK ANNKXATIUX I'OLK'V. 

foiiiial tivaty of aniicxalioii was iicgotiatud bctuffi) Kiiii;- KaiiK'haiiR'ha 
auil the llou. David L. Clregg', iu the capacity of coiiiiiiissiouer, aud 
acting under special iiistructious of Secretai-j- Marcy, then Secretary 
of State under President Pierce. The King died, however, before tlie 
engrossed cojty of the treaty had been signed, which prevented the ((Hm- 
pletion of the act. But for this there is evei-y reason to believe (hat 
annexation would have been an accnniplishcHl fact at that time, as tiie 
administration of President Pieici' was tlioroughly committed In it. 
The i)oIicy tlien distinctly enunciati'<l was not to have the islands come 
in as a State but as a Territory. 

I'residcnt (Jrant was a zealous advocate of annexation and in isTl 
a ri'(i])i(t(ity treaty with tlie islands was entered into by Secretary Fisii, 
under which the Hawaiian government bound itself not to "lease or 
otherwise dispose of or create any lien ujmn any port, harbor, or otiur 
territory ... or giant any special privilege or i-ight of use therein 
to any other government," nor enter into any reciprocity ti-eaty with 
any other government Thirteen years later (1SS7), under the admin 
istration of President Cleveland, there was a i-enewal of this treaty, 
to which w:is added a clause giving to tlie United States autluirity fur 
the exclusive use of Pearl Kiver (or harbor) as a coaling and rejiair 
station for its vessels, with permission to improve the same. Article 
IV of tliis ti-eaty bound the respective governments to admit certain 
specilitil articles fiee of duty and contained the following provision: 

"It is agreed, on (he jiart of his Hawaiian Majesty, (hat so long as 
this treaty siiall remain in force he will not leas<' or othenvise disjjose 
of or create an}- lien upon anj' port, harbor, or other territory iu his 
dominions, or grant any sjiecial privilege or rights of use therein, to any 
other power, state, or government, nor make any treaty by which any 
<itiier nation shall obtain the same privileges, relative to the admission 
of any articles free of duty, hereby seemed to tlie liiited States." 

Tiiis treaty was to remain in force seven years (uirtil 1S94), but, after 
(hat date, was declared to be terminable by either party after twelv(,' 
nuinths' notice to that effect. 

Thei-e have been two treaties relating to annexation liefoi-e Congress 
wit hin (he last five yeai-s, (he first uego(ia(ed by Se(i-e(ary of S(a.(e .Tohii 
\V. i'oster during the administration of President llari-ison iu ISO,'?, (lie 
other by Secretary Sherman under the McKinley administration on (1h> 
ICIli day of June, 18117. The first was withdiawn by President CJcve- 
liind after his accession to the Presidency. Both were ratified by the 



HAWAII, AND OUli A:NNEXAT10N I'OLIOY. 365 

Hawaiian Logislature iu accordance with a provision of tlie constitution 
of tlie republic, and that body, by nnaninious vote of botli Houses, on 
May 27, 1896, declared: 

"Tliat tJie Legislature of the republic of Hawaii continues to be, as 
heretofore, firmly and steadfastly in favor of the annexation of the 
Hawaiian Islands to the United States of America, and in advocating 
such policy it feels assured that it is expressing not only its own senti- 
ments but those of tJie voters of this republic." 

The necessity for a closer relation of the two republics than that pro- 
vided for by a commercial treaty, terminable at the pleasure of either, 
has been recognized by nearly every President and Secretary of State 
from John Tjier down to President McKinley, by none more strongly 
than by Daniel Webster in 1851 and by Secretary Marcy in 1854, while 
like views have been favored by Secretaries Sewai'd, Fish, Bayard, 
Foster, and Sherman since. 

The strategic value of the islands in case of war and their com- 
mercial value at all times are so bound up together that it is impossible 
to separate them. The former has been testified to by such eminent 
military and naval authorities a.s General J. M. Schofield and General 
Alexander of the United States army and Captain A. T. Mahan, Admiral 
Belknap, Admiral Dupont, and George W. Mellville, Engineer in Chief 
of the United States uavj^, and many others. Their commercial value 
is demonstrated by the fact that their trade with the United States for 
the fiscal year, ending June, 1897 (amounting to .fl8,385,000), exceeded 
that with either of the following States and confederations: Argen- 
tina, Central America, Spain, Switzerland, Venezuela, Russia, or Den- 
mark; was more than twice that with Colombia or Sweden and Norway; 
nearly three times that with Chile; four times that with Uruguay; 
nearly four times that with Portugal; nearly seven times that with 
Turkej'; ten times greater than that witli Peru, and greater than that 
of Greece, Peru, Turkey, Portugal, and Sweden and Norway combined. 

Vote for Annexation. 

By a vote of 209 to 91 the House of Kepresentatives on the afternoon 
of June 15 adopted the Newlands resolutions, providing for the annex- 
ation of Hawaii. The debate, which was continued without interrup- 
tion for three days, was one of the most notable of Congress, the pro- 
posed annexation being considered of great commercial and strategic 
importance by its advocates, and being looked upon by its opponents 



3GG HAWAII, AND OlK ANNEXATION I'OLICV. 

as iuvulviiiy a radical departure from the lougesUiblislied puliey of the 
couutiy aud likely to be followed by the inauguration of a pronounced 
policy of colonization, the abandonment of the Monroe doctrine and 
particii)ation in international wranyies. More than half a hundred 
nienjbers paHicipated in the »lcl);ilc. 

Close of the Debate. 

Notable speeches were made by iMessrs. Kerry, Smith and Hepburn 
for, and by Messrs. Johnson and Williams aj^^ainst the pendinj>- measure. 
l'\'\v members were upon the floor until late in tlie afternoon and llic 
jjalleries had few occupants. As Hie liour of votinj^ drew near, liuw- 
ever, members began taiving their ])hi(('S and there were few more tiiau 
a score of absentees when Hie first roll call was taken. The announce- 
ment of tiie vote upon the ]iassa<ie of the resolutions was dieeicd ii]m.ii 
the floor and ajijilaiided generally by the sjiectators. 

The resolutions adopted in a ]treamble relate the nllVr df the 
Hawaiian r<-i)ublic to cech- all of its sovereignty and absolute title In 
the government and crown lands, and then by resolution acce])t the 
cession and declare the i.slands annexed. Tlie resolutions ]>rovide foi- 
a commission of five, at lea.st two of whom shall be resident I lawaiiaiis, 
to recommend to t'cngress such legislation as they may deem advisable. 
The public debt of Hawaii, not lo exceed -s J,(H)(I,(I(I(I, is ii.ssiiiiie<l, Cliiiiese 
imiiiigralion is jtndiibiled, all treaties with other powers are declared 
null, and it is pi-ovided that until Congress shall jirovide for the goveiii- 
miMii of the islands all civil, Judicial and military jwwers now exer- 
cised by Hie oHicers of thi' existing government shall be exercised iu 
such manner as the President shall direct, and he is given jMiwcr Id 
apjioiiit ]iei-s(ins to ]>\\t in efTect a in-ovisioiial govi'rnimiil fni- liic 
islamls. 

Opposition to the Resolutions. 

Mr. I'^itzgerahl spoke against the Newlamls re.snlulious. hi llir 
course of his K]teech he emjdiasized Hie failure of tlie majority of Ha- 
waiians to i'X]>re.ss their desire relative to annexation. He insisted thai 
every peojile had the right (o the government of their choice. Speaking 
further, Mr. Fitzgerahl o]>]iosed annexation on the grniiiid Hint an injuri- 
ous labor element would be brought into competition wiih Ann liian 
laborers. 

SuiijKirting the re.s<ilu(ion Mr. I'.erry devoted iinn li of his lime to 



HAWAII, AKD UUK ANXKXATIO.X I'OLICV. 3G7 

showing that auuexatiou was iu liue with dciiioci-atic imliiv. llu re- 
viewed the territorial additious to the original states to show tiiat prac- 
tically all had been made by democrats. 

Mr. Berry digressed to speak of the Philippine situation, and while 
not advocating tJie I'eteution of the islands he declared the United States 
should brook no interference upon the pai't of Germany. He said 
America should resent anj^ intervention with all her arms and warships. 
Mr. Beri-y's remarks in this connection were ajiplaudcd generously. 

William Alden Smith, member of the committee on foreign affairs, 
advocating annexation, said: 

"Annexation is not new to us. In my humble opinion the whole 
North American continent and evei"y island in the gnilf and the Carib- 
bean sea and such islands in the Pacific as maj' be deemed desirable are 
worth}" of our ambition. Not that we are earth hungi'y, but, as a 
measure of national protection and advantage, it is the duty of the 
American people to lay peaceful conquest wherever opportunity may be 
offered. 

"It has been argued that our constitution makes no provision for a 
colonial system, but if President Monroe had been merely a lawyer, if 
he had contented himself by looking for precedent which he was unable 
to find, if he had consulted the jurisprudence of his time and planned 
his action along academic lines the greatest doctrine ever announced 
to the civilized world, which now bears his name, though in unwritten 
law, but in the inspiration, the hope, the security of eveiy American 
heart, would have found no voice potent enough and courageous enough 
to have encircled the western hemisphere with his peaceful edict. 

"Precedent, sir, may do for a rule of law upon which a fixed and 
definite superstructure must be built, but it is the duty of statesman- 
shij) to cease looking at great public questions with a microscope and 
sweep the world's horizon with a telescope from a commanding height." 

Mr. Johnson then was I'ecognized for a speech in opposition. lie 
laid down the three propositions that annexation was unnecessary- as a 
war measure in the present conflict with Spain; that annexation was 
unnecessary to prevent the islands from falling into the hands of some 
other power to be used against us, and that the proposition to annex 
was inherently wrong and was the opening wedge upon an undesirable 
and disastrous policy of colonization. 

Advancing to the danger of annexation being the first step in coloni- 
zation, he said gentlemen could not deny that the holding of the Philip- 



3G8 HAWAII. AM> Oil; ANNEXATION I'OLICV. 

j>iiK-s was coutt'iiii)lati-il aln-ady. What was iiioiv (Icpli.iabk' aiitl sij;- 
uiliiaut, he said, was the exiircssod fear of the I'resideut lest Spaiu 
should sue for peace before we could secure Puerto Kico. Mr. Johusou 
said uieu were already speakiu<i disjjarajiinoly of the Cubans and their 
capacity for government, and it was useless to attempt to hide the tr\i(h 
that American eyes of avarice wei-e already turned to Cuba, although 
but two nu)nths since action was taken to free and establish that island 
as indcjieudent. . 

When Mr. Johnson concluded tlio house and galleries apitlauded 
fively. 

Reply by Mr. Dolliver. 

Mr. l»oliiver, speaking in support of the resolutions, complimented 
the speech of the Indiana member, but suggested its success as an 
applause-getter would be gi-eater than as a maker of votes. 

"I cannot understand," declared Mr. Dcdliver, "how a man who dis- 
trusts everything of his own country can fail utterly to suspect anything 
upon the part of other great jKiwers of the world." Concluding, Mr. 
Dolliver refuted the charge that annexationists had any hidden motives 
looking to colonial expansion. As to the future of tlie lMiilii)pines, 
Cuba and Puerto Rico, he declared that he knew nothing, but he had 
faith that in the providence of God the American people would be 
guided aright and the.se questions would be met and disposed of prop- 
erly when occasion sluuild arise. A wave of applause swept through 
the house and galleries when Mr. Dolliver closed. 

.Mr. Cummings, in a ten-minute sju'ech, supi>oHed annexation and 
inilulged in si-verc dcnunciati(Ui of former I'resideut nevcland f(U- his 
e.'Tort to re-establish the monarchy in Hawaii and the liauling down of 
the .Vmei-ican (lag by Commissioiu-r lUount. 

Mr. II('iiburn was recognized to conclude in support of the resolu- 
tions. He believed the peojjle of tlu" countiy were familiar with the 
issue inv(dved, and tlie time was opportune for a vote and linal action. 
Answering the claim that annexation would mean launching ui>on 
colonization, he disavowed any such unilerstanding. He s;iid he hoped 
to .see every S])anish po.s.scssion fall into the possession of this country 
in <u-der to contribute to the enemy's injury, and that being accora- 
jtlished the (juestifui of tiiiir disposition would aris:- and be met when 
the war should end. 



CHAPTER L. 
CONTINUED SUCCESS FOR AMERICAN SOLDIERS AND SAILORS. 

The Bombardmeut of San Juan — The Enfiaficnient at Cai-<lenas — Landing 
the Troops in Cuba — Another Great Naval Kattle — Adniii-al Dewey 
Captures More Ships — Insurgent Victories in Cuba — Riots in Spain — 
America Triumphant. 

On the morning of May 12, a portion of the fleet, commantled by 
Admiral Sampson, made an attack on the forts of Sau Juan de Puerto 
Kico. The engagement began at 5:15 a. m. and ended at 8:15 a, m. The 
enemy's batteries were not silenced, but great damage was done to 
them, and the town in the rear of the fortifications suffered great losses, 
both in life and property. 

The ships taking part in the action were the Iowa, Indiana, New 
York, TeiTor, Amphitrite, Detroit, Montgomeiw, Wampatuck, and 
Porter. The enemy's firing was heavy, but wild, and the Iowa and 
New York were the only ships hit. They went right up under the 
guns in column, delivering broadsides, and then returned. The after- 
tuiTet of the Amphitrite got out of order temporarily during the en- 
gagement, but it bauged away with its fonvard guns. After the first 
passage before the forts, the Detroit and the Montgomen' retired, 
their guns being too small to do much damage. The Porter and Wam- 
patuck also staye<l out of range. The smoke hung over eveiything, 
spoiling the aim of the gunners and making it impossible to tell where 
our shots struck. The officers and men of all the ships behaved with 
coolness and bravei'y. The shots flew thick and fast over all our ships. 

The men of the Iowa who were hurt during the action were injured 
by splinters thrown by an eight-inch shell, which came through a boat 
into the superstinictui'e, and scattered fraginents in all directions. The 
shot's course was finally ended on an iron plate an inch thick. 

N. G. Merkle, a marine, was struck in tlie arm and may lose it. All 
Avere hurt by splinters, and a fire was started in tlie boat, but was 
quickly extinguished. 

369 



370 CUMIMED 8UCCESS F()H THE AMEUICANS. 



Iowa Hit Eight Times. 

Morro battt-ry, on tbc eastwaril arm of Ihc harbor, was tlic |irin- 
cipal point of attark. Kwir Admiral Samjisou ami Captaiu Evans 
were ou the lower bridge of the Iowa and had a, nan"ow esoajK' from 
llyiuji; .spliuters, which iujun-d three meu. Tiie Iowa was hit eii;lil 
limes, but the shells made no impression on its armor. The wcatlu'r 
was tine, but the heavy swells nmde a'teurate aim ditlicult. 

The broadsides from the Iowa and Indiana rumbled in the hills 
ashore far five mimites after they were delivered. Clouds of dust 
showed where the shells stmck, but the smoke hung over everything. 
The shells screeching overhead and dropping around showed that the 
Spaniards still stuck to their guns. 

At 3 o'clock in the moniin<;- all hajids were calUsl on the Iowa, a 
few final touches in clearing shij* were made, and at 5 "general quar- 
ters" soundtnl. The men were eager for the light. 

The tug \A'ampatuck went ahead and juuhored it» small boat to 
the we.stward, showing ten fathoms, but there was not a sign of life 
from the fort, wliicli stood iMjldly aj:,ainst tiie sTiy (m the eastern hills 
hiding the town. 

The Detroit steame<l far to the eastward, opposite Valtern. Tlie 
Iowa headed straight for (he shore. Suihleiily its helm llcw over, 
bringing the starboard ballci-y to hear on tlir fori! lica linns. 

When the Battle Begins. 

.\t .">:H'. a. m. the inwa's forwai-d l w eh riiK li miiis I liiindrifd out 
at the slei'ping hills, and for fourteen iniinilcs llicy poun-d slaiboaid 
l»roadsides on the coast. Meanwhile the Indiana, the Xew York, and 
othershiiM<rcp<'ated the do.se from I In- nar. The Iowa turne<] and came 
back to the Wanipat nek's boat and ajrain 1('<1 tlic column, the foi'ts 
rcjilying fiercely, cnnicnl rai inu mi the |)cii-<iil, which \\:is alioul 7(1(1 
yards away, all the batteries on tiie eastward ni'iii of ihe haihor. 
Thrice the ccdnmn pas.scd from the entrance of ilie harbor to the 
extreme eastward battery. 

I'tter iniliffereiice was shown f<u" the enemy's tire. Tlic wniiiiiled 
were quickly afteiiiled, the blood was washed away, and cvciyt hint: 
procfH'ded like tar;;et jtractice. 



CONTINUED SUCCESS FOK TUE AMEKICANS. 371 

At 7:45 a. m. Admiral Sainpsou siguale<l "Cease firing." "Retire" 
was sounded on the Iowa, and it lieaded from tlie shore. 

After the battle was over Admiral Sampson said: 

"I am satisfied with the morning's work. I could have taken Sau 
Juan, but had no force to hold it. I merely wished to punish the Span- 
iards, and render the port unavailable as a refuge for the Spanish 
fleet, I came to destroy that fieet and not to take Sau Juan." 

The man killed by the fii'o from the forts was Frank Widemark, a 
seaman on the flagship New York. A gunner's mate on the Amphi- 
trite died during the action from prostration caused by the extreme 
heat and excitement. 

As for the ships, they are practically as good as they were when 
they went into action. The shot which smashed the Iowa's boat flat- 
tened against an inch armor plate, and the fire in the boat was soon 
extinguished. Further than this it escaped with a damaged bridge 
railing and a battered exhaust pipe, though eight shots struck the 
vessel. 

The New York was even less bothered, a few holes in its funnels 
and ventilators being the only visible marks. The shell which injured 
the four men scattered its fragments near Admiral Sampson, who 
had made the Iowa his flagship for the action and who stood on the 
bridge with Captain Evans. 

The Iowa, Indiana, New York, TeiTor, and Amphitrite went close 
under the fortifications after the armed tug Wampatuck had jiiloted 
the way and made soundings. 

The Detroit and Montgomery soon drew out of the line of battle, 
their guns being too small for effective work against fortifications. 

Three times the great fighting ships swung past Moito and the 
batteries, roaring out a continuous fire. Whenever the dense smoke 
would lift, great gaps could be seen in the gray walls of Moito, while 
from the batteries men could be scM^n scurrying in haste. 

The Spanish fire was quick enough, but ludicrously uncertain. 
This was shown after Admiral Sampson had given the order to cease 
firing and retire. The monitor Terror evidently misunderstood the 
order, for it remained well in range of the Spanish guns and contin- 
ued the bombaitlment alone. The few guns still served by the Span- 
iards kept banging away at the Terror, and some of the shots missed 
it at least a mile. It remained at its work for half an hour before re- 
tiring, and in all this time was not once hit. 



372 L'ONTIMED SLOC^ESS FULi TUE A.MEUICANS. 

Dewey's Second Victory. 

After the battle of Manila there reiuiuued but three Spauish war 
sliii>« iu I'acilic waters. One of them was in tlrj dock at Iloiigkon;^ 
and the two othei-s were in hiding in the waters of the Philijjpine gi-ouj). 

The admiral dispatched the gunboat Concord and a cruiser to locate 
and destroy the two Spanish vessels. The Concord soon discovered the 
Argos, and after a lively battle lasting tliirty minutes the Spanisji sliij) 
was sunk with all on board and her coloi-s flying. 

Not a man was lo.st or injured on the Concord, nor did the ship sus- 
tain any daiuiige. 

Town of Cardenas Destroyed by Fire and Shell. 

Amenca's lirst dea<l fell on the lltii of Mity in a tierce and lil ly 

combat olT C;irden;is, on the noi-th coast of Cuba. 

Five men were blown to pieces and live were wfiunded on the torjM'do 
boat Wiuslow. 

List of the killc(l: liagley, A\'or(li, ensign; Danit-ls, Jolin, lirsl-class 
fireman; Meek, John, first-class fireman; Tunnell, John (colored), cabin 
cook; VaneiH'S, John, oiler. The wounded: Bernadon, J. I?., lieuten- 
ant, commanding the Winslow; Cf)x, R. E., gunnei*'s mate; Criiy, F. ; 
McKeown, D., quartennaster; Patterson, J., fireman. 

Tlje battle lasteil thirty-five minutes. It was between the IoiimmIo 
bnnt ANinslow, flic nuxiliaiT tug Hudson, and the gunboat Wilmington 
on iiiic side, ;inil I lie Cardenas battenes and four Sjianish guuboats on 
tlie oilier. The Winslow wa.s the main target of the enemy, and wns 
l»ut out of service. The other American vessels were not (hiuiiiged, 
except that tlic Hudson's two veutiliilnrs wen- sliglilly sci-alciicd by 
flying shrapnel. 

The ^^■inslo\v wns within 2,r)0fl yards of shore when 1 he shells struck. 
How it came to be so close was told by its commaiiiler, Lieutenant .John 
IJi-niadou. He said : 

"\\'{- wf-re making obscrxalioiis wlim I hi- (iicmy o|i<'ncd lii'c on us. 
'i'hi' Wilmington ordered us to go in and attack the guid)oat.s. We 
went in under full steam and thei'e's the result." 

He was (»n the lluds<»n when In- saiil this, and with the final words 
he jHiinled fo the hudille of American flags on (he deck near by. Fuder 
the Stars and Stripes were outlined five rigid forms. 



CONTINUED SUCCESS FOR THE AMERICANS, 373 



Story of the Fight. 

The story of the fight, as tokl by the IIiulsoii's men, is as follows: 
The WinsloAT, the Hudson, the Maohias, and the Wiluiington were 
among: the ships off Cai-denas on the blockade, the Wilniinji^ton acting; 
as flagship. The Machias lay about twelve miles out. The others were 
stationed close in, on what is called the inside line. At a quarter to 9 
o'clock the Hudson, under Captain F. H. Newton, was taking soundings 
in Diana Cay bars and Romero Cay, just outside Cardenas, so close to 
shore that it grounded, but it floated off easily into the shallow water. 
At half past 11 the Wilmington spoke the Hudson and the Winslow 
and assigned them to duty, the Winslow to start to the easteni shore of 
Caixlenas Bay and the Hudson to the western shore, while the Wilming- 
ton took its station in mid-channel. This work occupied two hours. 
Nothing was discovered on either shore, and the boats were approa.ch- 
ing each other on their return when a puff of smoke was obseiwed on 
shore at Cardenas, and a shell whistled over them. The Winslow was on 
the inside, nearer the shore. The Hudson and the Winslow reported to 
the Wilmington, and orders came promptly to go in and open fire; but 
the Spaniards had not waited for a reply to their first shot The Car- 
denas harbor shore had already become one dense cloud of smoke, shot 
with flashes of fire and an avalanche of shells was bursting toward the 
little Winslow. 

Winslow Is Disabled. 

This was at five minutes past 2 o'clock, and for twenty minutes the 
firing continued from the shore without cessation, but none of the shots 
had at that time found their mark, though they were striking danger- 
ously near. Meanwhile the Hudson's two six-pounders were banging 
away at a terrific rate. How many of the torjxnlo boat's shots took 
effect is not known. Tlie first two of the Hudson's shells fell short, 
but after these two eveiy one floated straight into the smoke-clouded 
shore. The Spaniard's aim in the meantime was improving and it was 
presently seen that two empty barks had been anchored off shore. It 
was twenty-five minutes before 3 o'clock whea a four-inch shell struck 
the Winslow on the stai'board beam, knocking out its forwai'd boiler and 
starboard engine and crippling the steering geai", but no one was injured. 

Lieutenant Bernadou was standing forward watching the battle 
with calni interest and directing his men as coolly as if they were at 



374 COXTIXrKD SFCCESS FOR THE AilElUCAN^'. 

target i)ractice. By the onc-ixmuder amidsliips stood Ensiij;ii I?a.j;ley, 
the oilor, the two firenion, and the cook. Tlie little boat grasped and 
throbbL'<l and rolled helplessly from side to side. Lieutenant Bernadon 
did not stop for an examination. Fie knew his boat was uncontrollable. 
The Hudson wa.s a short distance off still pounding away with her guns. 
It was haikil and asketl to take the Winslow in tow. It was a vitxil 
moment. Guns roared from shore and sea. Lieutenant Scott, in charge 
of the Hudson's aft gun, sat on a. box and smoked a cigarette a.s he 
directed the lire. 

rajitain Newton stood near Lieutenant .Meed at the forward gun and 
watched its workings with interest. Chief Engineer (iulcdun never 
missed his Ixdl. A group of sailors Avas making ready to heave a line 
to the Winslow, and Ensign Bagley and his four men stood on the port 
side of the latter vessel, waiting to receive it. A vicious fire was singing 
about them. The Spaniards seemed to have found the exact lange. 

Killed by a Bursting Shell. 

There was a momentaiw delay in heaving the towline, and Ensign 
Bagley sugge.ste<l that the Hudson's men liuriy. "Heave her," he called. 
"Let her come; it's getting jiretty warm here." The line was thrown 
and grabbed by the Winslow's men. (!rimy with sweat and powder, 
they tugged at it and drew nearer foot by foot to the Hudson. Almost 
at tile same instant another four-inch shell shrieked thi'ough the smoke 
and burst diiectly under them. Five bodies wejit whirling tliiough the 
air. Two of the group were dead wiien tiiey fell — Ensign Bagley and 
Fireman Daniels. Tiie young ensign was literally disemboweled, and 
the entire lower poHiou of the lireman's body was torn away. Tlie 
other three died within a few minutes. A flying jiiece of shrapnel struck 
l>ieuteuant Bernadon in the Hiigli and cut an ugly gash, but the Lieuten- 
ant did not know it then. W iih the explosion of the shell tlie hawser 
jtailed and the Winslow's lielin went hard to starboard, and, with its 
steering gear smashed, the torjiedo Iniai lloiinilered about in the water 
at the mercy of tlie enemy's fire, which never relaxe<l. 

The lire of the Americans was of the usual i)ersisteiit cliaractei', and 
the nerve of the men was marvelous. Even after the ^Vinslow's star- 
board engine and steering gear were wrecked tlie little boat continued 
jioiiring shot into the Spaniards (m sliore until it was totally disabled. 



CONTINUED SUCCESS FOR THE AMERICANS. 3To 

"Wilmington's Deadly Fire. 

Meanwhile the Wilniiugton from its oiitlyinf;- Htation was busy with 
its bigger guns and sent shell after shell from its four-inch guns crash- 
ing into the works on shore, and their execution must have been deadly. 
Not a fragment of shot or shell from the enemy reached the Wilmington. 

The Hudson quickly threw another line to the Winslow, and the 
helpless torpedo boat was made fast and pulled out of the Spaniard's 
exact range. The tug then towed it to Piedras Cay, a little island twelve 
miles off, near which the Machias lay. There it was anchored for tem- 
porary repairs, while the Hudson brought the ghastly cargo into Key 
West, with Dr. Richards of the Machias attending to the wounded. Not 
until this mournful journey was begun was it learned that Lieutenant 
Bernadou had been injured. He scoffed at the wound as a trifle, but sub- 
mitted to treatment and is doing well. 

When the Hudson drew up to the government dock at Key West the 
flags at half mast told the few loiterers on shore that death had come to 
some one, and the bunting spread on the deck, with here and there a 
foot protruding from beneath, confirmed the news. Ambulances were 
called and the wounded were carried quickly to the army barracks hos- 
pitaJ. The dead were taken to the local undertaker's shop, where they 
lay all day on slabs, the mutilated forms draped with flags. The public- 
were permitted to view the remains, and all day a steady stream of 
people flowed through the shop. 

The American boats made furious havoc with Cai'denas harbor and 
town. The captain of the Hudson said : 

"I know we destroye<l a large part of their town near the wharves, 
burned one of their gunboats, and T think destroyed two other torpedo 
destroyers. We were in a vortex of shot, shell, and smoke, and could not 
tell accurately, but we saw one of their boats on fire and sinking soon 
after the action began. Then a large building near the wharf, I think 
the "barracks, took fire, and many other buildings were soon burning. 
The Spanish had masked batteries on all sides of us, hidden in bushes 
and behind houses. They set a trap for us. As soon as we got within 
range of their batteries they would move them. I think their guns were 
field pieces. Our large boats could not get into the liai-bor to help us on 
account of the shallow water." 



uo^■Tl^■L^^:D success rui: tue ameiuca^'s. 



Worked in a Storm of Bullets. 

Amid a perfect .storm of shot from S]»anish liHcs ami batteries the 
Amerieau forces cut the cables at ("ienfiiegos May lltli. 

Four determined boat crew.s, under command of Eieutcnant \Vinslo\v 
and Ensign Majiruder, from the cruiser Marblehead and "gunboat Nash- 
ville, put out from the ships, the coast havinj:- previously been shelled. 
The work of the volunteers was perilous. 

The cruiser Marblehead, the jiunboat Nasliville and Die auxiliary 
cruiser Windom drew up a thousand yards from shore with their guns 
manned for desperate duty. 

( >ne cable had already been cut and the work was in proiiress on the 
other when the Spaniards in ritle pits and a batteiT in an (dd lij^hthouse 
standinj;- out in the bay opened fire. The war ships poured in a thunder- 
ous volley, their ureat f;uns belchiui;- forth massive siiells into the 
swarms of the enemy. 

Paid No Attention to the Fire. 

The crews of the boats calmly proceeded with their desperate work, 
i.(»t\vithstandin<i- tlie fact that a nnmher nf men liad fallen, and finished 
it, returiiiufi' to the shijis throujjh a blindinj;- smoke and a heavy fire. 

The American losses were: Killed — Patrick Reagan, Krn.st Sunlz- 
enech. Wounded — Lieutenant Winslow of the Nashville; .lohn Davis, 
(142 2r)th street, New York city; John J. Doran, 44 Sju-ing street, Fall 
liiver, Mass.; Hobert A'olz, Carteret county, Noilh (^aroiiiia; William 
Leveiw; Herman AV. Kochmister; Harry Ilendrickson. 

All but Lieiiliiiaiil Winslow belonged to the Marblehead. 

Witnesses of the cngagenu'nt sai<l that had the men got through their 
work of cutting the cable fifteen minutes .sooner no ca.sualties would 
have occurred, a.s the Spanish were apj)aTently not aware of what was 
going <m. 

Till- NVindom, which was clo.s<> in shore, ojiened uj) on the ntle pits 
and tlieii oil the lighthouse, which was I'eally a fort. The lighthouse was 
completely demcdished, not one stone being left upon another. 

Captain Maynard had a nan-ow escape from death. A ritle shot hit his 
side close to the heart, but caused only a llesh wound and he ke|)t at liis 
post until tile en<l. The officers of the Windom were enthusiastic over 



CONTINUED SUCCESS FOR THE AMERICANS. 377 

the work of the men in the hiuuohe.s. Tliev fired iu regular order and 
shot well. 

The Spaniards, after being driven from the rifle pits and masked 
batteries, took refuge in the lighthouse. When the ships left Colorados 
point nothing could be seen of either lighthouse or foii:. Both were lev- 
eled to the ground. 

Searching for the Cable. 

At daybreak on the morning of May 13, the St. Louis appeared oiT 
Santiago de Cuba, having been sent bj the admiral to cut the cables 
connecting Santiago and Jamaica. About 6 o'clock the American flag 
was hoisted at the masthead and all hands were called to quarters. The 
ship then swung around and steamed across the harbor at a distance of 
five miles from the forts, firing three shots from one of her forward 6- 
pounders in the direction of Morro, with the intention of drawing the fire 
of the forts to see what guns they had, but the fire was not returned. The 
ship then steamed back and forth across the harbor, getting gradually 
closer to the forts. 

Battle at Guantanamo. 

After cutting the cables at »Santiago de Cuba, Captain Goodrich de- 
cided to cut the French cable that runs from Mole St. Nicholas, Ilayti, 
to Guantanamo, Cuba, about thirty miles to the eastward of Santiago. 
On the morning after the encounter with the forts of Santiago the St. 
Louis and the Wampatuck appeared off Guantanamo about daylight, 
and the Wampatuck, with Lieutenant Jungen in command and Chief 
Officer Seagrave, Ensign Payne, Lieutenant Catlin and eight marines 
and four seamen on board, steamed into the mouth of the harbor and, 
dropping a grapnel in eight fathoms of water, proceeded to drag across 
the mouth of the harbor for the cable. 

About 150 fathoms of line were run out when the cable was hooke<l 
in fifty fathoms of water. This time the lookout reported a Spanish gun- 
boat coming down the harbor and a signal was sent to the St. Louis, 
lying half a mile outside. She had already discovered it, and immedi- 
ately opened fire with her two port fi-pounders. The Wampatuck then 
commenced firing with her one 3-pounder. The gunboat, however, was 
out of range of these small guns and the shells fell short. 

The Spaniards opened fire with a 4-inch gun, and every shot went 



378 COXTIXrEI) SrCCESS FOK TUE A.MEHICANS. 

whistliug over the little ^^'aIupatlu•k and struck in tlu' water betweiMi 
her and the St, Louis. Beinjj well out of ninj^i' of the O-pouuders the 
{^[unboat was perfectly safe, and she steamed back and forth tiring lu-r 
larger guns. For about forty minutes the tug worked on the cable, while 
the shells were striking all around her, but she scn'mtnl to bear a charnuMl 
lif.-. 

Captain (loodnch, seeing that he could not get the gunl;oat within 
range of his small guns, while that vessel could easily reach the St. Louis 
and Wanipatuik with her heavi<'r battery, signaled the tug to withdraw. 
The gTa]ii)liiig line was cut and both vessels steamed out to sea, leaving 
the cable nuiiit 

Riflemen Are Scattered. 

As the tug turned and starle<l out it was noticed that rilleinen on 
shore were tiring at her. Lieutenant Catlin opene<l up with the (iatling 
gun mounted aft and the Spaniards on shore could be seen scattering 
and running for shelter. The French cable was cut the next morning off 
Mole St. Nicholas, well outside of the three-mile limit. 

Lieutenant Catlin was fcu'merly on the battleshii) Maine, and iierliajis 
he took ninre ili.in ordinary interest in firing his guns. 

"Vou could tell by the grim smile on his face as he lircnl each shot," 
on(> of his brother officers sai<l, "that he was trying to 'get even,' a.s far 
a.s lay in his [lower, for the awful work in llaxana harbor." 

Assignments of Army Chiefs. 

In a general order issued at liie W ;ir dejinrlniint May K!. Ilie jussi^n- 
meiits <<» tlu- different c(UT»s and oilier jiiiportnnl conniianils were as 
follows: 

Majtir <i,-iici-al Wesley .MeiTitl. I'. S. A., the Depuit ineiit ,,{ tin- I'a- 
cilic. 

.Major Ceneral .lohn K'. I'.i ke, 1. S. A., the I'irsI ("oijisancl ilieDe- 

jtai'tnienl of the ( Jnlf. 

.Major (leneral William M. (irabarn, T. S. \'oliinteers, the Second 
<>»rp.M, with luMuhpiarters at Falls Clniicli. \irginia. 

Major (Jeneral James F. Wade, l'. S. \'olunteers, the Third Corps, 
re|)orfing to Major Oeneral Brooke, Chickamauga. 

.Major Cieneral John J. Coppinger, V. S. Volunteers, the Fourth Corps, 
Mobile, Ala, 



CONTINUED SUCCESS FOR THE AMERICANS. 379 

Major C}«neral William R. Shafter, U. S. Volunteers, the Fifth Corps, 
Tampa, Fhu 

Major (leneral Elwell S. Otis, U. t^. \'olimteers, to report to Major 
GenerfU Merritt, U. 8. A., for duty with llie troojjs in the I)ei)artmeut (jf 
the Pacific. 

Major General James II. Wilson, U. S. Volunteers, the Sixth Corps, 
Chickamauga, reporting to Major General Brooke. 

Major General Fitzhugh Ix'e, U. B. Volunteers, the Seventh Co^ks, 
Tampa, Fliu 

Major General Joseph II. Wheeler, IT. S. ^'olunteers, the Cavalry 
Division, Tampa, Fla. 

The first American army to sail for foreign shores left San Francisco 
May 25. At 4 o'clock in the afternoon Brigadier-General Anderson sig- 
naled from the Australia for the City of Peking and the C^ty of Sydney 
to get under wa.y. The signal was seen from the shore, and the waiting 
crowds cheered wildly. No time was lost on board the transports. The 
crews worked with a will and in a short time the anchors were up and 
the vessels were under way. Then the 2,500 soldiers who had been im- 
patiently awaiting the signal to start climbed to the rigging and 
swarmed all over the big ships, shouting and cheering like mad. 

The big transports steamed slowly along the water front, and the 
crowd on shore raced along to keep them in sight The noise made by 
the patriotic citizens on sea and shore was something terrible. Every 
steam whistle in the city appeared to be blowing, cannon were fireil, and 
the din lasted fully an hour. 

The three transports earned close on to 2,500 men. The expedition, 
which was under the command of Brigadier-General Anderson, con- 
sisted of four companies of regulars, und(»r command of Major Robe; the 
First Regiment California Volunteers, Colonel Smith; the First Regi- 
ment Oregon Volunteers, Colonel Summers; a battalion of fifty heavy 
artillery. Major Gary; about 100 sailors, and eleven naval officers. The 
fleet was loaded with supplies to last a year, and can-led a big cargo of 
ammunition and naval stores for Admiral Dewey's fleet. 

Second Call for Volunteers. 

The President issued a proclamation calling for 75,000 more volun- 
teers on May 25. This made the total ainny strength, regidar and volun- 
teer, 280,000. 



280 CO>yriNUEI) KUCGESS FOU THE AMEEUOANS. 

The official call issued by the President in the form of a proclamation 
\v;ls lis follows: 

Whereas, An act of CoiiKress was approved on the 25th day of April, 
1S9S. entitled "An act dedariu},' that war exists between the United States 
of America and the kingdom of Spain," and 

Whereas, By an act of Congress, entitled "An act to provide for tempo- 
rarily increasing; the military establishment of the I'nited States in time of 
wiir and for other purposes.'' approved Ajiril li2, ISDH, tin- President is author- 
ized, in order to raise a volunteer army, to issue hia jiroclamation calling fur 
volunteers to serve in the army of the United States. 

Now, therefore, I, William McKinley. President of the United States, by 
virtue of the power vesti'd in me by the eonstitution and the laws and deeming 
sufficient occasion to exist, have thought tit to call forth and hereby do call 
forth, volunteers to the aggregate number of 7."),0()0 in addition to the volun 
teers called forth by my proclamation of the i;;!d day of .Vpril, in the present 
year; the sauje to be apjjortioned, as far as ]:>raclicable, among the several 
States and Territories and the District of Columbia, according to pojiulation. 
and to ser\-e for two years unless sooner discbargcKl. The projiortion of each 
arm and tlie details of enlistment .and organization will be made known 
through the war department. 

In witness whereof, I havo hereunto set my liaiul ainl c.uisiij ilir seal of 
the United States to be alFixed. 

Dune at the city of Washington, this ll.'ith day of May. in the year of our 
Loiy], IS'JS, and of the independence of the United States, the llIlM. 

WII.I.IA.M .McKlNLKV. 

l',y till- I'ri'sidint, 

W II.I.IA.M K. I>.\Y. Secretary of Slate. 

Bunning Down His Prey. 

Four wi'oks fifter the victory of Kear-.Vdiniral Dewey at Manila, Tom- 
nKuloit' Schley, in coiiiinand of the (lying siniadroii, had his shrewdnc^ss 
anil p«'rlina<'ity rewarded by tiiidiiig tlie Si»anisli (leei in (lie iKubor of 
Saiitiapi d<'(>iba. 

For ten days lie liad. in the face of conflicting i-iiniors, insisted that 
the shijiK of Spain were trying to make a landing on the soiilhein coast 
(if ('ubiu lliis was evidently not in ccmsonanco wth certain ollii ial in- 
formation and his opinion was not given much Aveight. 

The cajttain of the British steamer Adnla, who was interviewed at 
Cienftiegos, told of seeing the Si>anisli lle<'t in tlie vicinity of Santiago de 
Cuba, evidently awaiting an opjiortnuity to get in. r^iptain Higsbe(! of 



CONTINUED BUOCESS FOit THE AMERICANS. 381 

the St. Paul related how he had captured a Spanish cool vessel golnfj into 
the harbor of Santiago, and Commodore Schley argued from the.se two 
incidents that the fleet of Spain was waiting in some haven near by until 
such time as a visit, fruitless in its results, should be made there by the 
Americans when, upon their departtire, the Spanish fleet would run is. 

Consequently Commodore Schley determined to find it. 

Himself in tJie lead with the flagship, he started toward tlie harbor. 
The Spanish troops at the works and batteries could be seen, through 
glasses, preparing in haste to give the American ships as warm a recep- 
tion as possible. 

When about five miles from the batteries the lookouts reported the 
masts of two ships, and Flag Lieutenant Sears and Ensign McCauley 
made out the first to be the Cristobal Colon. Two torpedo boats were 
also made out and a second vessel of the Vizcaya class was seen. 

All this time Commodore Schley was upon the aftei'bridge of the 
Brooklyn making good use of his binoculars. Amved at the harbor en- 
trance, when the ships were sighted from the deck, he turned his eyes 
from the glasses long enough to wink and say: 

"I told you I would find them. They will be a long time getting 
home." 

Flag Waves Before Cardenas. 

A cable from Key West, under date of June 3, said: 
"Cardenas is frantic with wTath because it cannot look seaward 
across the keys without seeing an American flag floating proudly over 
Pitdrau Key, two miles off the entrance to the harbor. Lieutenant 
Crossby of the Leyden, called by courtesy a gunboat, but in reality mitli- 
Ing more than a tug with a couple of guns on board, planted it there. 

The three gunboats in Cardenas harbor are those wliich euticed tlio 
Winslow into the bay when the forts were battered into nibbish, and 
whose fire slew the American sailors. The men on the Leyden have been 
wild to avenge the deed, and the little vessel has been lying in wait for 
the Spanish gunboats." 

The Voyage of the Oregon. 

The Oreg(m is tlie record battleship of the worid. It is the only craft 
of its kind that has weathered the famous cape. Its voyage from Sau 
Francisco to Florida is a matter of historic interest. When it anchored 
off Sand Key, Florida, the Oregon had completed the longest trip ever 



382 CO^■TL^■UED eUCJCESS FOR THE A.MEIUOANS. 

made by a battleship. AUoficther slio sailed 18,102 iiiiles iu eig:hty-one 
days. This time iucludes the days she spent in harbors coalinj;. The 
distances of the Orejjon's trips are enonnous. The voyajie was wonderful 
in everj' way. Nothing like it ever hajuK'neil before. The record for long 
voya^fes had been held bj- a British llafjship, which steamed from Eu<;- 
land to China. The distance from Pnpet Sound to Sand Key is more 
than two-thirds the circumference of the earth. The bi<i trip was a 
record of itself, and it include<l within it several minor records for battle- 
shii) steanlinJ,^ For exaTii])le, the Ore^ion ran 4,720 miles without a stoji 
of any kind for any pur])os<'. Such a run is lonfjer than the voyage from 
New York to (Jueenstown or to Bremen or to Havre. It is com]Kirahl(' 
with the fjreat runs of the majinilicent nu'rchant ships of the Peninsular 
and Oriental Steamsip Navij^ation Company from Ijondon to C4iJcut.l;i, 
Ik)mbay and Madras. It is a triumph for any kind of a ship, but it is a 
wonder ff)r a battleship. The Orepon left Puf,'et Sound March t>, left San 
Francisco on Mtirch 19 and drew up at Sand Key, Fla., on May 2(;. 
EA-erything on board of her was shipshape. Her enjrines, of 11,111 horse 
power, were bright and fresh and ready for another voyage of 17,000 
miles. Not a bolt was loose; not a screw was out of order. 

Hobson "Wins Fame. 

A cable of dale of June 3 says: "By one nf tin' must hi'illiaut (■x]>l()its 
iu tiaval annals the cork has been driven into the bottle of Santiago dc 
Cuba and th«« Spanisli fleet could not be more secure were tJie entrance 
to that harbor barred and double loilced and tlie key <lrop]M'<l into tlie 
h(»ttomless dei)ths of the sea. 

"Lieutenant Kichmond P. Hobson of the flagship New York, wilh a 
volunteer crew of seven men, undercover of the darkness after the moon 
had set, sliorfly affer 3 o'clock this morning ran the big collier Merrimac 
into the tliroat of f lie harbor, swung her broa<lside to across the channel 
and then <'XiiliMled ii.nd sunk her. He succeeded in this desjjerate enter- 
l>rise under the fires of tlie batteries and forts which guard (he entrance 
without su])iiiirt from Ihe fleet." 

FoHowing is tlie oilicial report received by the navy deiiai-tiiieiil from 
,\dmirai Sauijnson: 

Mole. Haiti, Jniie 4. 
Sinceeiled in .sinking' .Meiiiinac in llie clianiicl of Santiago at 4 a. m. 
.Iniie :t. 



i 



CONTINUED 8UCCESS FOR THE AMERICANS. 383 

This was carried out moiit gallantly under the oommand of Naval Con- 
structor Hobson and seven men. 

By a flap of truce from the Spanish admiral, Cervera, sent in recognition 
of their bravery. I am informed all are prisoners of war, two of Ihem being 
slightly wounded. 

Request authority to approve exchange, if possible, behveen these and 
the prisonei-s at Atlanta. 

Six of the Spanish squadron in the harbor of Santiago unable to avoid 
being cajjtured or destroyed. SAMI'SON. 

Santiago Under Fire. 

On the morniu^- of June 6 the American fleet euf>a<je(l the Spanish 
batteries defending tJie entrance of the harbor of Santiag-o de Cuba, 
and, after three hours' bombardment, silenced nearly all the forts, de- 
stroyed several earthworks, ajid rendered tiie Esti-ella and Cajo bat- 
teries, two of the principal fortifications, useless. 

The fleet formed in double column, six miles off Mori'o Castle, at 6 
o'clock in the morning, and steamed slowly 3,000 yards off shore, the 
Brooklyn leading, followed by the Marblehead, Texas and Massachu- 
setts, and turned westward. 

The second line, the New York leading, with the New Orleans, Yan- 
kee, Iowa and Oregon following, turned eastward. 

The Vixen and Suwanee were fai- out on the left flanlc, watching the 
riflemen on shore. The Dolphin and Porter did similar duty on the right 
flank. The line headed by the New York attacked the ucav earthworks 
near Moito Castle. The Brooklyn column took up a station opposite 
the Estrella and Catalina batteries and the new earthworks along the 
shore.. 

The Spanish batteries remained silent. It is doubtful whether the 
Spaniards were able to determine the character of the movement, owing 
to the dense fog and heavy rain which w^ere the weather features this 
morning. 

Iowa Opens Fire. 

Suddenly the Iowa fired a twelve-inch shell, which struck the base 
of Estrella battery and tore up the works. 

Instantly firing began from both Rear-Admiral Sampson's and Com- 
modore Schley's column, and a torrent of shells from the ships fell upon 
the Spanish works. 



384 CONTLXUKD KFCCESi^ FOR TUE AMKHICANS. 

The Spaniards rcjilic^i i)niiii]itly, but tlu-ir artillery work was of a 
poor quality and most of their shuts went wild. Siuoko settled around 
the ships in dense clouds, renderiuj:; accurate ainuu<j: difficult. There 
was no niajieuverin<; of the lleet, the ships remaining at their orifjinal 
stations, fii-iu},'' steadily. The squadrons were so clo.se in shore that it 
wiLs dillicult for the Anieiican jfuuni-rs to reach the batteries on the hill- 
tops, but their fii-ing was excellent. 

Previous to the bombardment, orders were issued to prevent firing 
on Morro Ciistle, as the American Admiral had been informed that Lieu- 
tenant ITobson and the other prisonei*s of the Men'imae are confined 
thei-e. In spite of this, however, several stray shot.s damageil Morro 
Castle somewhat. 

Commodore Schley's line moved closer in shore, firing at shorter 
range. The lirooklyn and Texas caused wild havoc amoug the Si)anish 
shore batteries, quickly silencing them. While the larger ships were 
engaging the heavy batteries, the Suwanee and Vixen closed with the 
small in-shore battery oyiposite them, raining raiiiil-lire shots upon it 
:Lnd quickly placing the battery out of the fight. 



Come to Close Range. 

The Brooklyn closed to 800 yarils and then tJie destruction caused by 
its guns and those of the Marblehead and Texas was really awful. In 
a few minutes the woodwork of Estrella fort was burning and the bat- 
ter}' was silenced, firing no more during the engagement. Eastward 
the New Y()rk and New Orleans silenced the Cayo battery in quick ordt>r 
and then shelled the earthworks locattvl higher up. The practice here 
wa.s not so accunite, owing to the elevation of the guns. Many of the 
shells, however, landed, and the S])anish gunners retired. 

Shortly after !l the firing ceased, tlie warships turning in order to 
|perniit the use of the iMirt batteries. The firing then became a long rever- 
berating crash of tiuinder, an<l the sliells rake^l the SpaTiish batteries 
witli terrific e(Tc(t. I'ii-e broke out in Cataliiia fort and sihiiccil llie 
Spanish guns. 

The filing of tiie licet continued until 10 o'clock, when the Sjianish 
ceasr-d entirely, and Admiral Sanii)soii hoisted the "Cease firing" signal. 



C0:NT1^'UED SUOUESS tor TUE AMEKIGANS. 385 



Americans Escape Injury. 

After the fleet retired the Spaniards returned to some other guns 
and sent twelve shells after the fleet But no one was injured. One 
large shell fell close to the collier Justin. Throughout the entii'e engage- 
ment no American ship was hit and no American was injured. If the 
Spaniards stuck to their guns, and all evidence is to the contrary, their 
loss must have been heavy. The percentage of effective projectiles was 
large. 

The Spaniards admit that the bombardment from the American fleet 
was most destructive. About 1,G00 projectiles were fired by the Ameri- 
can warships. 

Americans Make a Landing. 

One purpose of the American Admiral, it appears, was to land 
troops and siege guns at Aguadores, after reduciug the defenses of the 
place, and then make a close assault upon Santiago, which, in view of 
the present condition of its fortifications, may be expected to yield soon. 

A landing of American troops was effected near Baiquiri, some dis- 
tance east of Aguadores, and near the railroad station connecting with 
Santiago de Cuba. Later an engagement took place between the Ameri- 
can force and a column of Spanish troops which had been sent against 
the landing party. The Spaniards were driven back 

Fought for Thirteen Hours. 

Lieutenant-Colonel R. W. Huntington's battalion of marines, which 
landed from the trauspoii; Panther, .June 10, and encamped on the hill 
guarding the abandoned cable station at the entrance to the outer 
harbor of Guautanamo, engaged the Spanish guerrillas and regulars in 
a continuous fight, lasting for almost thirteen hours, until re-enforce- 
ments were landed from the Marblehead. 

Four of our men were killed and one wounded. The dead: John 
Blair Gibbs, assistant surgeon; Charles H. Smith, sergeant, of Small- 
wood; William Dunphy, private, of Gloucester, Mass.; James McColgan, 
private, of Stoneham, Mass. The wounded: Corporal Glass. 

Assistant-Surgeon John Blair Gibbs was a son of Major Gibbs of 
the regular ai'my, who fell in the Custer massacre. His home was at 



38G C0>;T1MED success 1\)U the AMERICANS. 

Kii limoud, \'a., but be had been praciicing iu Xew Yuik and he entered 
the service siuee the Avar began, lie was a very popular oflQcer. 

Corporal (jla.ss wasaccideutally wounded iu the head. 

The Spanish loss was probably considerable. The splashes of blood 
found at daylight at the positions the Spaniards occupied indicated 
fatalities, but their comrades caiTied off tlie killed and wounded. 

The engagement began with desultory liriug at the pickets, 1,000 
yards inland from the camp. Captain Spicer's company was doing 
guard duty and was driven in, finally rallying on the camp and repulsing 
the enemy at 5 o'clock. The bodies of Privates McColgan and Dunjihy 
were found, both shot in the head. 

The large cavitie's caused by the bullets, which inside a range of .")0U 
yards have a rotaiy motion, indicated that the victims were killed at 
close range. 

The bodies were stripped of shoes, hats and cartridge belts and hoi-- 
ribly mutilated with machetes. When they were brought in the whole 
battalion formed three sides of a hollow square about the camp on the 
hilltop. 

Main Attack at Midnight. 

Shortly after midnight came the main attack. The Spaniards made 
a gallant charge up the southwest slope, but were met by repeated 
volleys from the main body and broke before they were one-third of the 
way up the hill; but they came so close that at points there was almost 
a hand-to-hand struggle. The oflicers used their revolvei*s. Three 
Spaniards got through the open formation to the edge of the cam]). 
Colonel Jose Campina, the Cuban guide, discharged his revolver, and 
they, turning and finding themselves wiiliout supp<irt, ran lielter skelter 
down tlie reverse side of the hill. 

It was during this assault that Assistant Surgeon Ciibbs was killed. 
He was sliot in the head in front of his own tent, the farthest point of 
attack. He fell into the anus of I'rivate Sullivan and both droiijjed. 
A second bullet threw d\ist in their faces. Surgeon Ciibbs lived ten 
minutes, but did not i-cgain consciousness. 

I.ieutenant-Colonel Huntington and Major Cockrell gave high praise 
to the nerve and steadiness of oflicers and men, especially the young 
one.s, as the engagement was a bajitism of fire for a large majority. 
The men were in darkness and in a strange land, but they stood to 
their posts with courage and fortitude and there was no symjjtom of 
panic. 



CO^TI^'UED SUCCESS FOR THE AMERICANS. 387 



Two Americans Killed. 

After the first attack Colonel Huntington decided that another 
attempt Avould be made Sunday night, and he caused entrenchments to 
be thrown up on all sides of the camp, and in the trenches the main 
part of the battalion waited for the attack that the Colonel was certain 
would come. It arrived within a short time after dark, and from that 
time until daybreak the firing- was incessant and at times very heavy. 
On the American side two men were killed and four wounded. The 
dead are: 

Sergeant-Major Henry Goode of the marines, shot through the right 
breast; Private Tauman, Company D, wounded and fell off the cliff and 
instantly killed. 

The injured are: Private Wallace, Company D, fell off the 
cliff and sustained a fracture of the leg; Private Martin, Company 
D, shot through the left leg; Private Roxbury, Company D, shot through 
the arm; Private Burke, shot through the arm. 

The first attack of the Spaniards was made at S o'clock, and the last 
shot was fired by them at about 3 o'clock in the morning. 

Shells from the Marblehead. 

During the night the Spaniards attacked the camp of the inarines on 
the shore, and the Marblehead, believing the Americans had been 
driven out, threw several shells into the place. The attack, however, 
was repulsed by the small detachment of marines in camp without 
trouble. The shells of the Marblehead struck among the marines. 

The fight was the first of the war in which the Cubans co-operated 
with the American forces, and their co-operation was not a glittering 
success. At one time during the afternoon, whenever the marines were 
firing on a small detachment of Spaniards that made their appearance 
a short distance from the camp, the Cubans began firing -nithout orders 
and sent a volley right among the Americans. There were several nar- 
row escapes, but no one was injured 

Lieutenant Neville, of Company B, was sent out on scout duty, and, 
as on the day previous, he attacked a small stone fort. A hot fight 
followed and the Spaniards were driven off with loss. It was during 
this fight that Wallace and Tauman fell over the cliff. 



388 co>;tjmki) s^lcckss rou THE AMi:iiia\>;«. 



Found Fifteen Dead Spaniards. 

Fiftec'U dead Spaniards, imludiii^ one lii'iitcuant, were fuund in llie 
fort. 

During' the attack sovoral sliots struck the sliijjs in the iiarli(»r, one 
penetrating tlie pilot lionse of the dispatch boat l>andy. >.'o one was 
injured on board of her, however. 

The night attack was i>ictiirosquo, and a striking spectacle — the 
crack of the Mausers, tt)ngues of fire from eveiy bush eucircling the 
camp, the twitter of the long steel bullets overhead, while the machine 
gun.s down on the water were ripjiing open the pickets, and the crash of 
the held guns c(»uld be heard as They were driving in canister where the 
lire of the Spaniards was the thickest. Then there was the screech of 
the Marblehead's shells as she took a hand in the tight, and the sharji, 
quick flashing of tlu' rajiid-liring one-pounder guns from tiie siiips' 
launches. 

The United States marines, under Lieutenant-Colonel Kobert W. 
Huntington, made their tir.st aggressive nunenu-nt against the Spanish 
guerrillas on the following day and completely routed the enemy. 

The force of marines was under Captain Elliott and tlie co-operating 
Cubans were under Colonel Laborda. The combined forces razed a 
Si)anish camp about five miles from the American position, destroyed 
the (udy well in the vicinity and killed about forty S])aniard.s. One 
American marine was slightly wounded. Two Cubans were killed aiid 
four wounded. 

Four Hundred in the Fight. 

It is inifiossible to estimate iIm' hhiiiIh r dl' Spanish engaged o\\ ing to 
their g-uerriila nu-thods of fight ing, Iml ii is l>clii\cd tiiere were at least 
'four hundred. 

The marines behaved splendidly, their marksmanship being excel- 
lent, even under the severe fire of the enemy. 

The captured camp lies about five miles southeast of the rifle pits of 
the marines, and was an iui])ortant base for the enemy, as it contained 
the only well within si.x or seven miles. Lieutenant-Colonel Huntington 
decided oti the attack early in the day, and at about S o'clock the force 
started across the mountain. The march up and down the hillsides 
nndef the glaring tropical sun was a severe test of endurauce for the 



CONTIXUEI) SUCCESS FOR THE AMERICANS. 389 

marines, and before the battle oronnd was reached Iwenfj-two men 
had received medical attention. All were able, however, to reacli the 
position before the fightinj;- ceased. 

The marines were compelled to march in single file, following the 
mountain trail. Meanwhile the Cubans darted backwai'd and fcn-ward 
to right and left, on the scout. It was noon when from a hilltop the 
Americans caught sight of the Spanish camp lying on a ridge below 
them. It consisted of one large bouse — the officers' quarters — sur- 
rounded by numerous "shacks" and huts, all clustering about the 
precious well. 

The Americans began a cautious advance and were within 200 yards 
of the enemy before the crack of a rifle from the Spanish lines announced 
that the Spaniards had discovei"ed them. 

Marines Do Effective Work. 

The troops quickly moved into line of battle, with the Cubans on the 
left flank. The enemy's bullets were whirling viciously over the Amer- 
icans, but the marines settled down to their work as unconceniedl.v as 
though at target practice. Very few Spaniards were in sight. They 
were lying behind the huts and in the brush, but the puffs of smoke re- 
vealed their positions and enabled the Americans to do efl'ective work. 
For twenty minutes both sides maintained a terrific fire. The Spanish 
shots were generally wild and spasmodic, while the Americans coolly 
fired away, aiming carefully and shooting to kill. For the most part 
the Americans' firing was done individually, but at times the officers 
would direct firing by squads, always with telling effect. 

It was beginning to look as though a bayonet charge^ down the slope 
would be necesvsary to dislodge the enemy, when suddenly the latter 
began to break for a thicket a hundred yai-ds further on. Little groups 
could be seen fleeing from the camp, separating, darting through the 
brush and zigzagging to escape the bullets. 

Vain Flight of Spaniards. 

It was then the American fire became most deadly. Man after man 
could be seen to fall in a vain rush for shelter, and the fire from the 
Spanish became scattering and almost ceased. 

Two Cubans lay dead and four wounded, and Private Walker, of 
Company D, had to limp to the rear with a slight wound in his ankle. 



390 CONTINLEl) SUCCESS F()K THE A.MKKlt'A.XS. 

The easy victoiy put the commaiul in hij;li spirits. The lilllc bhick 
Cuban wanii)rs wavi-d Iheir machetes and howled eurses at the Spanish 
in savage fashiuu. Their tiring had been wild throughout, but tli(\v tlis- 
played the utmost contempt for the Spanish bullets, apiiannily hcin^ 
absolutely witiiout fear. 

Shells from the Dolphin. 

As the enemy began breaking from the camp the Dolphin, which lay 
out at sea, wa.s signaled and began jiitching shells toward the thicket 
for which the Spaniards were making. Meanwhile Lieutenant Magill 
was seen coming with foi-ty men as re-enforccmcnts, and Cajjlain Ma- 
hrmey was on the way with 1(10 more, liut before either could reach tlic 
scene the trouble was over. 

As the Spanish retreated the Aimricans moved slowly forward, liring 
as they went, and by the time the camp was reached the enemy had all 
got away, taking their wounded and probably many of their dead, l-il- 
teen bodies were found scattered through the brush, but the Americans 
were unable to examine the sjxit where tluir tiring had been most 
deadly. No time was lost in burning the buildings and lilling I lie well 
with earth and stones. 

The Dcdjdiin landed water and ammunition, as an attack was ex- 
pected on the retain march, but m)ne was made. ICvidently the Span- 
iards were too thoroughly beaten to attempt further lighting. The ma- 
rines did not reach the American shiji until after idghtfall, and, as they 
had been witluuit food since the early morning they were l liurniighly ex- 
hausted. 

Sail to Help Dewey. 

I'onr trausjiorts bearing about 1,(1(1(1 men jiassed throngii theMoldtMi 
fiate siiortly afli'r I o'clock on the ITitli of June, auii<l scenes of great 
enthusiasm and jiatriotism unequaled in the history of San Francisco. 
Tlie four vessels which carried the troops were the ("liiti:i, Colun, /en- 
lanilia and Senator. The fleet was accompanied down the bay by a 
large number of tugboats and bay steamers. 

It was a few nnnutes past 1 o'clock when the China hoisted the blue 
Peter and warned the lleet to get under way. 'I he Sen:ilor liad slijiped 
into the stream and straightened out for the run to .Manila. \\ hen she 
reached the stream the Cliina swung away from her anchorage and 



COISITINUED SUCCESS FOR THE AMERICANS. ;i9l 

Started down the bay, followed by the Colon aJid Zealandia and a long 
line of tugboats and steamers. 

At 1:30 p. m. the fleet was off Tvombard street and a few minutes later 
it was steaming past Meiggs' wharf. Thousands of people, attracted by 
the blowing of whistles, rushed to points of vantage on the city front 
and cheered the departing boats. Soldiers crowded the fort at the point 
and shouted and waved their hats as the squadron passed out through 
the (Jolden Gate. A heavy fog lay outside the bar, and before 2 o'clock 
the transports were lost in the mists. 

Troops on the Transports. 

Assigned to the China, General Greene's Hagship, and the largest, 
finest and fastest vessel of the fleet was the First Regiment Colorado 
Volunteer Infantry, 1,022 men; half a battalion of the Eighteenth 
United States Infantrj-, 150 men, and a detachment of United States 
engineers, 20 men. 

The Colon took four companies of the Twenty-third Infantry and two 
companies of the Eighteenth Infantry, both of the regular army, and 
Battery A of the Utah artillery. In the batterj^ were twelve men and in 
each of the infantry companies seventy-five men, besides the officers, 
making less than GOO military passengers. The control of the ship Avas 
given to Lieutenant-Colonel Clarence W. Bailey, of the Eighteenth In- 
fantry. 

On the Zealandia were the Tenth Pennsylvania Volunteers and part 
of Battery B of the Utah Volunteer Artillery. With the gunners went 
two Maxim fighting machines, w^hich as a precautionary measure were 
placed ready for action in the bow of the vessel. In all there were 640 
privates and GO officers on board. 

On the steamer Senator was the First Regiment of Nebraska Volun- 
teei-s, numbering 1,023 men and officers. 

Transports Filled with. Troops. 

After weeks of waiting and preparation the first army of invasion to 
start, from the eastern shores of the United States departed under the 
command of General Shatter on the morning of June 14 at 9 o'clock. 
The fleet of transports consisted of thirty-five vessels, four tenders and 
fourteen convoys. The actual embarkation of the troops began on Mon- 



393 CONTINUED SUCCESS FOU THE AMEUICANS. 

(lay, June G. The work proceeded dilirjeutly until late on Wednesday 
afternoon, when, after the departure of several vessels, an important 
order came, calling a halt in the proceeiliugs. 

The alleged cause of the delay was the report that the Ilornet while 
out scouting had sighted several Spanish war vessels. 

Like a wet blanket came the order to halt. Cheerfulness was dis- 
placed by keen disappointment. Two questions were on every tongiu' — 
"lias Spain surrendered?" "Has our fleet met with a reverse?" The 
former met with the readiest belief, many believing the words in the 
order "indeOnitely postponed" meant peace. 

CJeneral Miles and his staff went to Port Tampa Sunday morning at 
0:30 to di'liver parting instructions. During a heavy rain squall on 
Saturday niglit at 8 o'clock while the transports were straining at their 
cables the little tug Captain Sam steamed from ship to ship megaphon- 
ing the order: "Stand ready to sail at daylight." Above the roar of the 
storm wild cheers were heard and a bright flash of lightning revealed the 
soldiers standing in the rain waving their wet hats and hurraliing. 
^Vhen the morning broke piers were lined with transports, the docks 
were crowded with box cars, flat cars, stock cars, baggage and express 
cars. Most of these were crowded with soldiers who were cheered until 
their ears ached, and wlii> cheered in return until hoarse. 

IJright-colored dresses and fragile parasols in the crowds of blue- 
coals indicated the jtresence of tiie fair sex. Horses and mules were 
kiiking ui> clouds of dust and the sun poured down its hot rays on the 
sweltering mass of liumanily. Thus Sunday passed, the transjHirls at 
the docks and tlmse in midstream receiving their quotas of men and the 
nocessarics to sustain Iheni. 

Stirring Scenes Continued. 

(W'Ucral Mil(-s again wi-nt to tlie port on Monday on the early train. 
The stirring scenes continued; the mad rush had not abated. Cicueral 
Miles from the observation end of his car watched the crowd as it passed 
near him. The transjuirts swinging at their moori^igs were plainly in 
view, as were also many of (hnse at the docks. The embarkation of ani- 
mals was progressing satisfactorily. 

Shortly after 9 o'clock the funnels of the trans]»oris began (o pour 
forth volumes of black smoke. The Olivette, Margaret, Mateo and 
Laui-u were visiting the fleet, giving water to one, troops to another, 



CONTINTEI) SrCCESS F()U THE AMERICANS. ;193 

animals and equipments to anotlier. Alouji; tlie pier could be beard 
the voices of the transport commanders as they jiave theii' orders to cut 
loose. The gangi^lanks -were pulled in, the hatchways closed, lines cast 
off and the engines were put in motion. 

The vessels backed into the bay and anchored to await the order to 
sail. The Matteaw'an hove her cable short at 10 o'clock. All eyes 
were riveted on the Seguranca, the flagship, and when the final signal 
came a mighty cheer arose. From the lower row of portholes to her 
tops hats waved in wild delight. The anchor was quickly weighed and 
the great vessel pointed her prow down the bay. In a few minutes the 
City of Washington, Rio Grande, Cherokee, Iroquois and AVhitney fol- 
lowed. As these boats picked their way through the anchored fleet men 
shouted and bands played. Every vessel elicitetl a wild display of en- 
thusiasm. These were the only vessels to depart in the forenoon, some 
of them going over to St. Petersburg to procure water. 

Miles Becomes Impatient. 

General Miles, evidently becoming impatient, embarked on the Tar- 
pon at 12:30 and went out among the fleet, going as far down the bay as 
St. Petersburg and not returning until 4 o'clock. In the meantime 
other transports were steaming down the bay. 

In the afternoon the Morgan cut a path of white foam down the chan- 
nel, and her lead was followed by the Vigilance, San Marcos, Clinton, 
Yucatan, Stillwater, Berkshire, Olivette, Santiago, Arkansas, Seneca, 
Saratoga, Miami, Leona, Breakwater and Comal. By the time these 
vessels had moved away darkness had enveloped the remaining ships, 
from whose sides glimmered long rows of lights. The Knickerbocker, 
numbered thirteen, and the Orizaba had much to take on during the 
night. The last to load were eager to complete the task for fear they 
might be left. By daylight all the ships except the Seguranca had 
moved down the bay. At 9 o'clock the Seguranca, amid cheers and the 
blowing of whistles, followed. 

General Shatter and his staff were the last to leave. The last orders 
were handed to Lieutenant Miley, an aid to General Shaft er, this morn- 
ing, and immediately the flagship started. 



394 CONTINUED SUCCE^<S FOR TOE AMERICANS. 



Sampson Again Shells Santiago. 

Rear-Ailmiral S:iiiiiisoii's fleet boiiiliiirtled the batteries at Santiaj;;o 
de Oiilia for the third time at dayli.i;ht uii the morniiij; of June K!. 

For hours the ships pounded the batteries at the rip,ht and left of 
the entrance, only sparing- El Morro, wliere Lieutenant llobson and ins 
companions of the Merriniac were in jn-ison. 

The western batteries, aj^ainst which the main assault was directed, 
were badly wrecked. One was utterly destroyed. In others many jruns 
were dismounted. 

At first the Spaniards replied passionately and wildly, but impo- 
tent ly. Then most of the guns were deserted. Not a ship was struck 
nor a man injured on the American side. The enemj's loss of life was 
lunnj. 

Another Test of the Vesuvius. 

As a preliminary to the hammering given the batteries the dynamite 
cruiser Vesuvius at midnight was given another chance. Three ^.'.O- 
pound charges of gun cotton were sent over the fortifications at the en- 
trance. The design was to drop them in the bay around the angle back 
of theemiiu'uce on which Kl Morro is situated, where it was known that 
the Spanish torjiedo-boat destroyers were lying. Two charges went 
true, as no reports were heard — a peculiarity of the explosion of gun 
cotton in wati r. Tlic third cliarge exjilodcd with terrific violence on 
Cayo Smitii. 

From where the fleet lay the entrance to the harboi- looked, in tlie 
black night, like a door oiiening into the livid fire of a Titanic furnace. 
A crater l»ig enough to hold a church was blown out of the side of the 
Cayo Smith and was clearly seen from the shijis. 

Preparations for Bombardment. 

Coffee was sened to flie men at I'r.'M) in flie moniing, and with the 
first blush of dawn the men were called (piietly to <piarters. The ships 
Kteanied in five-knot speed to a .*?,non-yard range, when they dose*! uj), 
broadside on, until a distance of three cabledengths separated them. 
They were strung out in the form of a crescent, the heavy fighting shi])S 
in the center, the flagship on the right flank and the Massa< Inisclfs on 



CONTINUED SUCCESS FOR TDE AMERICANS. 395 

the left flank. The Hue remained stationary thronghout the bombard- 
ment. 

The Vixen and Scorpion took up positions on opposite flanks, close in 
shore, for the purpose of enfilading any infantrj- that might fire upou 
the ships. 

When the ships got into position it was still too dark for any firing. 
The Admiral signaled the sliips not to fire until the muzzles of the ene- 
my's guns in the embrasures could be seen by the gun captains. 

The New York Opens the Attack. 

Fifteen minutes later, at 5:25 a. m., the New York ojicned with a 
broadside from her main battery at the works on the east of the entrance 
to the harbor. All the ships followed in red streaks of flame. The fleet, 
enveloped in smoke, pelted the hills and kicked up dirt aud masonry. 

Though the gun captains had been cautioned not to waste ammu- 
nition, but to fire with deliberation, the fire was so rapid that there was 
an almost continuous report. The measured crash of the big thirteen- 
inch guns of the battleships sounded above the rattle of the guns of the 
secondary batteries like thunder-claps above the din of a hurricane. A 
strong land breeze off the shore carried the smoke of the ships seaward, 
while it let down a thick curtaiu in front of the Spanish gunners. 

The Spaniards Fire Wildly. 

The dons responded spiritedly at first, but their frenzied, half-crazed 
fire could not match the cool nerve, trained eyes and skilled gunnery of 
the American sailors. Our fire was much more effective than in preced- 
ing bombardments. The Admiral's ordnance expert had given explicit 
directions to reduce the powder charges and to elevate the guns, so as 
to shorten the trajectory and thus to secure a plunging fire. 

Work of the Guns was Terrific. 

The effect of the reduced charges was marvelous. In fifteen minutes 
one western battery was completel.y wrecked. The Massachusetts tore a 
gaping hole in the emplacement wath a 1,000-pound projectile, and the 
Texas dropped a shell into the powder magazine. The explosion 
wrought terrible havoc. 

The frame was lifted, the sides were blown out and a shower of de- 



3t)C (JUNTI.MEI) SUCCE>iS FOR THE AMERICANS. 

biis Hew ill I'Vt'iT (liicctioii. f)iie tiinbcr, < UTied out of the side of the 
batttery, went tuiiiblinj:; down tlie hill. The I(i.»<s of life imist have been 
great. 

The batteries ou the east of Morro were harder to i,'et at, but the New 
Orleans erossed the bows of the New York to within 'AH) yards of shore 
and played a tattoo with her lonjj eifiht-ineh rifles, hillinj: them re- 
peatedly, striking a gnu squarely uiuzzle-on, lifting it olT its trunuious 
and sending it sweeping .s<iineisaults high in the air. 

When the order came, at ():30, to cease tiring even- gun of the enemy 
had been silenced for ten minutes, but as the ships drew off some of the 
Spanish courage returned and a half-tlozen shots were fired spitefully 
at the Massachusetts and Oregon, falling in their wakes. 

Went Ashore with a Rush. 

Sea and weather wer^' pro])ilious when, on June 2'2, the great army 
of invasion under (Jeneral Shatter left their transports in 15ai(iuiii 
harbor, ami landed on (\iban soil. The navy and the army co operated 
splendidly and a.s the big warshii)S closed in on the shore to pave the 
way for the a]>i)roach of the trans]>orts and then went back again, three 
cheers for the navy went uj) from many thousand throats on the trooj)- 
shii>K and three cheers for the army rose from ship after ship. 

The Cuban insurgents, too, bore their share in the entenirise honor- 
ably and well. Five thousand of them in mountain fastness and dark 
thickets of ravines, lay all the jtrevious night on their guns watching 
every road and mountain jjath leading from Santiago to (Juantanamo. 
A thousand of them were within sight of Hai(|uiri, making Die Mpproach 
of the Spaniards under cover of darkness an imjtossibiliiy. 

There is a steep, rocky hill, known as I'unta Hairpiiri, rising almost 
perpendicularly at the place indicated. It is a veritable fiibrallar in 
possibilities of defense. Trom the staff at its summit the Spanish Hag 
was defiantly floating at sunset; but in the morning it was gone, and 
with it the small Spanish guard which had maintained the signal 
station. IJi'tween nightfall and dawn the S]ianiards had taken the 
alarm and fled from the ]»lace, tiring the town as they left. 

The (lames were walcln'd with interest from the ships. Two sharp 
ex|»losions were heard. At first liicy were thought to be the report of 
guns from Spanish niaski-d ballerics, but they proved to be explosions 
of ammunition iu a burning building. 



CONTINUED SUCCESS FOR THE AMERICANS. 397 

Three hours' Avaiting- made the men on the transports impalient to 
get ashore and in action, and every move of the warships was closely 
watched by the soldiers. 

A little before 9 o'clock the bombardment of the batteries of Juraijua 
was begun. This was evidently a feint to cover the real point of attack, 
Juragua being about half-way between Baiquiri and Santiago. The 
bombardment lasted about twenty minutes. 

The scene then quickly shifted back again to the great semi-circle of 
transports before Baiquiri. 

At 9:40 o'clock the New Orleans opened fire with a gun that sent a 
shell rumbling and crashing against the hillside. The Detroit, Wasp, 
Machias and Suwanee followed suit. In five minutes the sea was alive 
with flotillas of small boats, headed by launches, speeding for the Bai- 
quiri dock. Some of the boats were manned by crews of sailors, 
while others were rowed by the soldiers themselves. Each boat con- 
tained sixteen men, every one in fighting trim and carrying three days' 
rations, a shelter tent, a gun and 200 cartridges. All were ready to 
take the field on touching the shore should they be called upon. 

The firing of the warships proved to be a needless precaution, as 
their shots were not returned and no Spaniards were visible. 

General Shafter, on board the Seguranca, closely watched the land- 
ing of the troops. Brigadier-General Lawton, who had been detailed 
to command the landing party, led the way in a launch, accompanied 
by his staff, and directed the formation of the line of operation. 

A detachment of eighty regulars was the first to land, followed by 
General Shaffer's old regiment, the 1st infantry. Then came the 2r)th, 
22d, 10th, Tth and 12th infantry in the order named, and the 2d Massa- 
chusetts and a detachment of the 9th cavali-y. 

The boats rushed forward simultaneously from every quarter, in 
good-natured rivalry to be first, and their occupants scrambled over 
one another to leap ashore. 

As the boats tossed about in the surf getting ashore was no easy 
matter, and the soldiers had to throw their rifles on the dock before 
they could climb up. Some hard tumbles resulted, but nobody was 
hurt. At the end of the pier the companies and regiments quickly 
lined up and marched away. 

General Lawton threw a strong detachment for the night about six 
miles west, on the I'oad to Santiago, and another detachment was posted 
to the north of the town among the hills. The rest of the troops were 



398 CONTINUED SUCf'ES^^ FOR THE AMERICANS. 

(liiartiTod ill the town, soiuo «»f tliciii bi'iiig boused in tin- lniililiiii;s of 
the iron oouipanj-. 

Some of the troops were quartered in deserted houses, whih' others 
preferred tlie shelter of their tents in the adjoining tields. 

The morning's fire, it was seen, ha<l destroyed the roundhouse, the 
repair sliops and several small dwellings. The town was deserted 
when the troojis landed, but women and children soon appeared from 
the surrounding thickets and returned to their homes. 

Part of the sun-bronzed troops quirkly searched the buildings and 
beat up the thickets in search of lurking foes and then at nightfall 
marched into the unknown country beyond, with long, swinging strides 
and the alert bearing of the old frontier army men, ready to tight the 
Spaniards Sioux-fashion or in the oi)eii, wherever they could be found. 

The landing was accomplished without loss of life, the only accident 
being the wounding of an insurgent on (he hills by a shell from one of 
the warships. 

Victory is Dearly Bought. 

On Fi-iday morning, June 24, four troops of the 1st cavalry, four 
troops of the 10th cavalry and eight troops of Roosevelt's rougli ridi-rs 
— less than 1,000 men in all — dismounted and attacked 2,000 Spanisli 
soldiers in the thickets wilhin five miles of Santiago de Cuba. A 
bloody conflict ensued, and the Americans lo.st sixteen mi'ii, including 
Cajitain Allyn M. ("apron and Hamilton Fish, Jr., of the rough riders. 

rractically two battles were fongjit at the mxuw time, one by the 
rough riders under tlie immediate command of Colonel Wood, on the 
lop of tiu' jdateaUj and the other «in the hillsides, several miles away, 
by the regulars, with whom was (Jeneral Young. 

Tiie exjH'dition started from Juragua^ — marked on siuue Cuban maps 
as Altares — a small town on the coast niiu' miles east of Morro Castle, 
which was the first jilace occupied by the troojts after tlieir lauding at 
]{ai(|uii'i. 

Information was brought, to tlie American army liead(|uarlers by 
Ciilians tiiat forces of S]>anisli sohiiers had assembletl at the place 
where the battle occurred to l)Io( k the march on Santiago. 

(Jeneral Young went there to dislodge tliem, the underslanding 
Iteing that the Cubans under (Jeneral Castillo would co-()i)erate with 
idin, but the hitter faile<i Id ajipear until the fight was nearly finished. 
Then they asked jperiiiissiou to diase llic llceing Siiniii.irils, liut as the 



CONTINUED SUCCESS FOR THE AMERICANS. 399 

victory was already won General Young refused to allow them to take 
part in the fight. 

General Young's plans contemplated the movement of half of his 
command along the trail at the base of the range of hills leading back 
from the coast, so that he could attack the Spaniards on the flank while 
the rough riders went off to follow the trail leading over the hill to 
attack them in front. This plan was carried out completely. The 
troops left Juragua at daybreak. The route of General Young and 
the regulars was comparatively level and easy of travel. 

Three Hotchkiss guns were taken with this command. 

March a Difficult One. 

The first part of the journey of the rough riders was over steep hills 
several hundred feet high. The men carried 200 rounds of ammunition 
and heavy camp equipment. Althougli this was done easily in the 
early morning, the weather became intensely hot, and the sun beat 
down upon the cowboys and eastern athletes as they toiled up the 
grade with their heavy packs, and frequent rests were necessary. The 
trail was so narrow that for the greater part of tlie way the men had to 
proceed single file. Prickly cactus bushes lined both sides of the trail, 
and the underbrnsh was so thick tliat it was impossible to see ten feet 
on either side. All the conditions were favorable for a murderous 
ambuscade, but the troopers kept a close watth, and made as little 
noise as possible. 

The rough riders entered into the spirit of the occasion, with the 
greatest enthusiasm. It was their first opportunity for a fight, and 
every man was eager for it. The weather grew swelteringly hot, and 
one by one the men threw away blankets and tent rolls, and emptied 
their canteens. 

The first intimation had by Colonel Wood's comiuand that there 
were Spaniards in the vicinity was when they reached a point three or 
four miles back from the coast, when the low cuckoo calls of the 
Spanish soldiers were heard in the bush. 

It was difticult to locate the exact point from which these sounds 
came. The men were ordered to speak in low tones. 

Charge the Enemy. 

As soon as the enemy could be located a charge was ordered, and 
the Americans rushed into the dense thicket regardless of danger. The 



400 rONTIXlKl) SUCCESS FOK THE AMEKICANS. 

SpaiiiiUils fell hack, luif fired as (lioy ran, and (ho battle lasted about an 
hour. 

The Si)aiiiar(l.s left many dead on the field, their loss in killed beini; 
not less than iUty. 

The Sjjanish had earefully planned the ambush and intended to 
h(dd tlie Amerirans in cherk. Tliey became panic stricken at the bohl- 
ness of the rush made by the invading force. The position gained was 
of great advantage. 

Where the battle look place a \>nth opens into a space covered witli 
high grass on the right-hand side of the trail and the thickets. A 
barbed wire fence runs along the left side. The dead body of a Cuban 
was found on the side of the road, and at the same time Captain Cap- 
ron's troops covered the outposts the heads of several Spaniards were 
seen in the bushes for a moment. 

It was not until then that the men were permitted to load tli<'ir 
carbines. \Viien the order to load was given tlu'y acted on it witii a 
will and displayed tiie greatest eagerness to make an attack. At tliis 
time the sound of tiring was heard a mile or two to the right, apparently 
coming fntm the hills beyond the thicket. It was the regulars reply- 
ing to tlie Sj)aniar(ls who had opened on them fi'oni the tiiicket. In 
addition to ra])id I'itle fire the itooni of I lotdiklss guns could lie iirai-d. 

Baptism of Fire. 

Hardly two minutes elajtsed before Mauser rifles commenced to 
crack in the thicket and a hundred bullets wliistled over tiie heads of 
the rough riders, cutting leaves from tii(> trees and seiiiling chips tiying 
from the fence posts by the side of the men. Tiie Sjianiards had oi»ened 
and they jtoured in a heavy fire, whicii soon had a niostdisastrous effect. 
The Irorijis stood tlieir ground with the liullets singing all ai'oimd tlieni. 
Private ('<dby caught sight of the Spaniards and fired tjir opening siiot 
at tiiem before the order t<j charge was given. 

SeigcanI Ilamilion I<Msh, Jr., was tlie lirst man to fall, lie was shot 
thrcHigh the hcail and died instantly. The Sjianiards were not more 
than LMIO yards filT, liul only occasional glimpses of llicm rould be seen. 
Tlie men continiicil lo pour vcdiey after volhy iiilo I he liriisli in the 
direction of the sou ml of ijic Spanish siiots, bul iIm- la iter became more 
fre(|iient and seemed to be getting nearer. 

Colonel Wood walked along his iine.><, displaying the utmost co(d- 
ness. lie ordered troop.s |(» de]iloy iiilo tiie thicket, and sent anotiier 



CONTINUED SUCCESS FOR THE AMERICANS. 401 

detachment into the open space on the left of the trail. Lieutenant 
Colonel Roosevelt led the former detachment and tore through the 
brush, urging his men on. The shots came thicker and faster every 
moment, and the air seemed filled with the singing and shrieking 
sound of the Mauser bullets, while the short pop of the Spanish rifles 
could be distinguished easily from the heaAier reports of the American 
weapons. Sometimes the fire would come in volleys and again shots 
would follow each other in rapid succession for several minutes. 

Captain Capron stood behind his men, revolver in hand, using it 
whenever a Spaniard exposed himself. His aim was sure and two of 
the enemy were seen to fall under his fire. Just as he was preparing to 
take another shot and shouting orders to his men at the same time, his 
revolver dropped from his grasp and he fell to the ground with a ball 
through his body. His troop was badly disconcerted for a moment, 
but with all the strength he could muster he cried, "Don't mind me, 
boys, go on and fight." He was carried from the field as soon as pos- 
sible and lived only a few hours. Lieutenant Thomas of the same troop 
received a Avound through the leg soon afterward and became delirious 
from pain. 

Roosevelt's Narrow Escape. 

The troops that were in the thicket were not long in getting into the 
midst of the fight. The Spaniards located them and pressed them hard, ' 
but they sent a deadly fire in return, even though most of the time they 
could not see the enemy. After ten or fifteen minutes of hot work the 
firing fell off some, and Lieutenant Colonel Roosevelt ordered his men 
back from the thicket into the trail, narrowly escaping a bullet himself, 
which struck a tree alongside his head. 

It was evident the Spaniards were falling back and changing their 
positions, but the fire continued at intervals. Then the troops tore to 
the front and into more open country than where the enemy's fire was 
coming from. About this time small squads commenced to carry the 
wounded from the thicket and la3' them in a more protected spot on the 
trail until they could be removed to the field hospital. 

Spaniards Give Way. 

It was not long before the enemy gave way and i*an down the steep 
hill and up another hill to the blockhouse, with the evident intent of 
making a final stand there. 



•lO-,' CoNTIMICn SUCCESS FOR TITK AMKKK'ANS;. 

Colonel \V(>n(l Avas at the front ilirinfin^^ Ihf niovi'nicnt and it was 
here that ilajor lirotlie was shot. Colonel Wood and Lieutenant 
Colonel Kooscvelt both led the troops in pursuit of the fleeinjr Spaniards 
and a hail of bullets was i)oured into the bloekhonse. l\v the time the 
Anieriran advance fjot within (iOO yards of the bloekhonse the S])an- 
iards abandoned it and scattered among the brush nj) anotlicr hill in 
the direction of Santiajjo, and the battle was at an end. 

Diirin*;; all this time just as hot a fire had been protiressinp; at (Jeti- 
eral Youn<i^s station. The battle began in much the same manner as 
the other one, and when the machine guns opened lire the Spaniards 
sent volleys at the gunners from the brush on the opposite hillside. 
Two ti'oops of cavaliy charged up the hill and other troops sent a 
storm of bullets at every point from which the Spanish shots came. 
The enemy was gradually forced back, though firing all the time until 
they, as well as those confronting the rough ridei'S, ran for the block- 
house only to be dislodged by C<douel Wood's men. 

Cieneral Young stated afterwards that the battle was one of the 
shariiest he had ever exj>erienced. It was only the (piick and constant 
fire of the troopers, whether they could see the enemy or not, that 
caused the Sjjaniards to retreat so soon. General Young spoke in the 
highest terms of the conduct of the men in liis command, and both 
Colonel Wood and Lieutenant Colonel Roosevelt were extremely grati- 
.fied with the work done by the rough riders on the first occasion of their 
being under fire. 

^^■hen it became evident that the Spaniards were giving up llie 
fight, .seaching parties went througli ti)e thicket and tall grass, jiicking 
uji thedea<l and wounded. The latter were carried to a field hospital 
half a mile to the rear and all i)ossible attention was given tl.eiii, while 
prejiaratiou was made to remove them to Juragua. 

Took the Ladrones. 

Tin- rnili'd Stales cruiser CharlcstiMi, with the troopships City of 
Sydney, City of I'ckiii and Austialia, arrived off Cavite on the IJOth of 
June. They left. Ilonolidu, dune -I, willi scaled orders from Wash- 
ington to capture tin- island of (Juani, ciiicf of the Ladnme Islands, 
anil tiie .'cat of Sjianish (Jovernment. 

'I'hi' .\nieiican cruiser and the transports arrived at <;iuun on the 
morning of Jiini' 20. They jiassed tin- unoccupicil Fort Santiago aii<l 



COKTINUKI) SUCCESS FOR TOE AMERICANS. 403 

advanced opposite Fort iSaiita Cruz. Tlio Chark'ston tlicu fired t\vi>lve 
shots, but, reeeiviug no response from the fort, it steamed on to Port 
Luis de Appa, where Agana, the capital of tlie Ladrone Ishmds, is 
situated. 

That afternoon the captain of tlie ])ort and the liealtli olficer came 
aboard the Charleston and were informed to tlieir aslonishmeul that 
they were prisoners of war. They had not heard (hat war existed 
between the United States and Spain, and they had thought the firing 
by the Charleston Avas a salute of courtesy. They said Governor 
Marina regretted that he had no powder for his cannon with which 
to return the salute. Those surprised Spaniards Avere thereupon sent 
ashore to request the Governor of the islands to come on board the 
Charleston. In reply the Governor sent his official interpreter and 
secretary to »<\j to the Americans that the Spanish laws forbade him 
to leave the shore during his term of office. Uowever, he iuvitetl 
Captain Glass of the Charleston: to a conference on shore the next 
morning and guaranteed his safety. Captain Glass sent Lieutenant 
Braunersreuther to meet the Governor and deliver an ultimatum de- 
manding the surrender of the Ladrones, giving the Governor thirty 
minutes in Avhich to consider the matter. Lieutenant Brauners- 
reuther was accompanied by two companies of Oregon Volunteers. 

The Governor Politely Surrenders. 

The Governor surrendered gracefully within the allotted time. 
Thereupon forty-six marines from the Charleston landed and dis- 
armed the lOS Spanish soldiers, confiscated their 116 rifles and 10,000 
rounds of ammunition. The natives were allowed to retain their 
weapons. They all showed delight in renouncing Si)anish authority, 
and tore off the Spanish regalia from their uniforms with many ex- 
pressions of satisfaction. 

Army in a Baptism of Fire. 

After long weeks of coni])arative idleness tlie campaign was 
opened in earnest Friday, July 1, when (^leneral Siiafter's army began 
an attack at dawn upon the Spanish fortifications. Shafter, with his 
army, had come from Cuero to El Cauey, making the base for his army 
at Siboney. From these points the Spanish troops under General 



40-1 COXTIXrED SUCCESS F()K TDK AMERICANS. 

I,iii;ii('s liiiii icti-catcd a .short distance ami taken San Jnan liill, from 
wliieli they liad aoeurate range of the American batteries. Siiaft(>r's 
forces were without suflfieient gnns, while (he Sjianiards had more and 
of a heavier caliber than was anticipated. 

The American army slej)! Thnrsday night within siglit of its l)al- 
tlefield of the morrow. At daylight Friday morning the forward move- 
ment began, liaid lighting was expected at El Ciiney, gnarding the 
northeastern approach to Santiago, and against this j)osi1ion were 
massed the commands of (ienerals l.awton and Wheeler, snjtported by 
('apron's battery of light artillery. Both (leneral WhcH'ler an<l (leneral 
Yonng were sick, so (lenei-al Snmner was assigned to the command of 
the former and Colonel Wood of the rough riders wa.s placed in com- 
mand of (leneral Young's cavalry brigade. Colonel Carroll of the Sixth 
Cavalry took General Sumnei-'s ])lace at the head of (he First Urigade 
of cavalry. Under (leneral Lawton were (hret- brigades — Colonel Van 
Horn's, consisting of the Eighlh and Twenty-second Infantry and the 
Second Massachusetts Volunteers; ColoTiel Miles', consisting of the 
First, Fourth and Twenty-tifth Infantry, and (leneral ChalTee'.s, consist- 
ing of (he Seventh, Twelfth and Seventeenth Infantry. On the eve of 
battle Colonel A'an Horn was re]>laced by (leiu'ral Ludlow. lender 
(leneral Sumner were four trooi)s of the Second Cavalry and eight 
li'oops of (he Firs( Xdluiileer Cavalry; under Colonel Wood (he rough 
riders, (he TeiMh Cavalry and four (roops of the First Cavalry. These 
two cavalry commands occupied (he lef( of (he San Juan plain for the 
aKack on (he blockhouse at (ha( jxiiiii. Thi y w cic supjiorled by Colonel 
Carroll's luigade, consisling of the Third, Sixth and Ninth Cavalry, and 
by Cajdaiu Crimes' battery of the Second Artillery. 

The s(iutheas(ern ap])i'oaches to the city were commanded by (1(M1- 
eriil Kent's (li\isioii. His l'"irsl i'rigadc- was ( oimiiaiidrd by (icnnal 
1 lawkins and consisled of I he Sixth and Sixteciit li regular infantry ami 
the Seven(y-(irsl New ^'^I■k N'oluiitens. Cnloiicl I'earsoii commande<l 
(he Second IJrigade, com|ios(Hl of (he Second, Tenth and Twen(y-lirs( 
regidar infan(ry, while (he Third Hrigade, commanded by Colonel 
Worth, consisled of (he Nindi, Thir(een(li and Twen(y-.four(h regular 
infaiilry. .Vguadores was (heir objecdve poin(. (Irimes' ba((en- of 
artillery and (he rough riders wei'e (o sui»]i<iit ficiicral l\eii( in Ins 
a((ack on Aguadores. while (leneral I)nfTi<'ld, with the Thirty-thiid and 
a batlalion of (In- Thirtyfnuil h .Michigan N'nlnntcers, was in advance 
of Kent's left. 



CONTlNtTED STJCOERS POK TIIP: AMERICANS. 403 

Captain Capron Opens the Fight. 

The fii'st shot of tho c'iii;ajj;vnieiil caiiu^ at (i:45 o'clock Friday morn- 
ing. It Avas fired by Captain Allyn M. Capron's Batteiy E of the I'irst 
Artillery. The privilege of opening the engagement was granted this 
officer because of the killing of his son among tbe rough riders who fell 
near Sevilla. The Spanisb answered the challenge from their forts and 
trencbes about Caney, and immediately the battle was on. The Span- 
iards for a time fought desperately to prevent the toAvn from falling 
into the hands of our forces, but before the figbting bad been long under 
way the Americans and Cubans under Garcia gained advanced ground. 
Foot by foot the enemy was driven back into tbe village. Tbe enthu- 
siasm of the American forces was intense and their spirit (piickly spread 
to the Cuban troops. 

At one time during this fight one of the big militan- balloons used 
by the signal corps for reconnoissance hung over San Juan, not over 
500 yards from the enemy, and for five minutes the Spaniards below 
tried to puncture it, but they were unable to get the range. This bal- 
loon proved of inestimable service in the engagement. It floated just 
over the tree tops, and was easily guided along three miles of the road 
toward the lines of the enemy. Whenever it halted for the purpose of 
taking a photograph of the fortifications below, the Spaniards seized the 
occasion for taking pot shots. 

In the fighting at San Juan a Spanish shell two and a half inches 
in diameter burst in the nudst of Captain Puritier's Battery K of the 
First Artillery, wounding several. Among those injured was Private 
Samuel Parr. Roosevelt's rough riders were also in this fight and bore 
themselves with as much credit as in the battle of last Friday in the 
bush. Several of the rough riders were wounded. 

The Fight Before Caney. 

Meanwhile the battle was raging fiercely at Caney and Aguadores. In 
General Lawtou's division the Second Massachusetts up to the middle of 
the day su.stained the heaviest loss, although other regiments were more 
actively engaged. During the afternoon the fight for the possession of 
Caney was most obstinate, and the ultimate victory reflects great credit 
upon the American troops. It was a glory, too, for Spain, though she 
never bad a chance to win at any time during the day. Her men fought 



406 CONTINUED t^UCCESS FOR THE AMERICANS. 

in iiitrciuliiiiciits, c-ovcrcd ways ami l)l()(kli(iiiscs, while tiic Ainorican 
forci's were iu tlie open from first to last. The Spanish soldiers stuck 
to tlu'ir work like men, and this, the first land li<;ht of the war, may well 
cause Spain to feel proud of her men. The American soldiers attacked 
the intreuchments throuj;h open j^round, and, from the tirin<j of the 
first shot until they were on the hills above Caney, they foufjht their 
way foi-ward and the Spanish were driven backward. General Chaf- 
fee's brigade held the right of the line with the town of Caney. General 
Ludlow's division was iu the center and Colonel Miles held the left. 

The firing at times was very heavy during the morning, but the 
Spaniards iu the covered way made a most obstinate defense and re- 
fused to yield an inch. Time and again llie shells from Captain Cai.n)u's 
batteiT drove them to cover, but as soon as his tire ceased they were ii]) 
and at il again. Despite the heavy firing of the Ameriian Ininjis I hey 
were able to nu\ke but little a])i)arent jirogress during the morning, 
although eventually they steadily drew in and inclosed the town on all 
sides. 

At noon il bccaiiie evident thai the lire from (lie covered way coul*! 
not be stopped by the artillery alone ami lluit no ])ermauent advance 
i-ould be made until the ]dace was taken, and General Lawton decided 
to cai.lnre il by assaull. Acc<u-dingly he sent a messenger to Gciinal 
Chall'ee, with instrurlious to take the position l)y a charge. General 
ChalTee thereupon closed in witli his men rapidly IVom the north, while 
Caiitain Cajjron maintained a lieavy lire on llie iurl, keei)ing the Sjjan- 
iards in thecovered way ajid pulling hole afler hole inio lli.' slnue walls 
of the fort. Shoi'tly aflerwai'd he threw a shot fr(»m the batlery, which 
tore away the llagslalV, bringing the Sjianish flag to the ground. From 
that lime no banner waved above it. 

No liner work has ever been done by sohliers than was done liy the 
brigades of (ieneral Ludlow and Colonel Miles as they closed in on the 
town. The Sjianish blazed at (hem with' .Mausers and machine guu.s, 
bill wilhniit elTect. Nothing roiild sliiji lliriii aiKJ they iiushed in closer 
during the ariernoon, and i>y llie lime (Inieral ChalTee's men were in 
form .Miles and l.udlnw were in the streets of the town, holding with 
tenacity the Spaniards fr retreating towaid Sautiago, while Chaf- 
fee closeil in on I he right. 

The lighting for hours in front of C.donel Miles' liTie at a hacienda 
known as "Duero" was Veiy liene. The Spanish del'ilise was e.M-eed- 
ingly obstinate. The house was giiaided by lille piis, ami as fast as 



CONTINUED SUCCESS FOR THE AMERICANS. 407 

the Spaniards were driven from one they retreated into another and 
continued firing. 

When the final closiug-in movement was begun at G p. m. the town 
of Caney was taken and a large number of prisoners was captured. 
The Spanish loss was 2,000 in all. 

Attack on Aguadores. 

The only movement of the day wliich did not meet with success 
was General Duffield's attempt to occupy tlie sea village of Aguadores. 
The New York, the Suwanee and the Gloucester shelled the old fort 
and the rifle pits during the forenoon, drove all the Spaniards from 
the vicinity and bowled over the parapet from which flew the Spanish 
flag; but, owing to the broken railway bridge. General Duffield's troops 
were unable to get across the river which separated them from the 
little town, and were compelled to go back to Juragua. 

Saturday at dawn the Spaniards, encouraged by Linares at their 
head, attempted to retake San Juan hill. Hotchkiss guns mowed them 
down in platoons. They were driven back into the third line of their 
inti-enchments, and there their sharpshooters, reported to be among the 
finest in the world, checked the Americans. The batter-ies of Grimes, 
Parkhurst and Curt were compelled to retire to El Paso hill. Lawton 
came with the Ninth Massachusetts and the Thirty-third and Thirty- 
fourth Michigan and the Spaniards began to retreat. 

Sampson then began bombardment of the outer forts of Santiago. 
The Oregon shot down Morro's flag and battered the old castle into dust. 
The batteries at Punta Gorda were blown up by the Oregon and the 
Indiana. Not one of the American ships was hit by the Spanish fire. 

At Guantanamo the Cuban forces under Garcia and Castillo killed 
300 Spanish soldiers and routed the enemy's army there. Castillo's 
forces forced their way to within five miles of Santiago. 

Shafter's Reports of the Fight. 

All Washington was thrown into a fever of excitement Friday when 
the following bulletin was posted at the War Department: 

Camp, Near Scvilla, Cuba.— Action now going- on. The firing only light 
and desultory. Began on the right near Caney, Lawton's division. He will 
move on the northeast part of the town of Santiago. Will keep you continu- 
ally advised of progress. SHAFTER. 



408 CONTINUED SUCCESS FOR TUE AMERICANS. 

For several hours this was the oulj- information from the seat of 
war, but later a dispatth came from Colonel Allen, in charge of the 
signal station at Playa del Este. He said that the fight was growing 
furious in all directions. At the time he sent the telegram eight Amer- 
icans and nine Cubans had been wounded. All through Saturday 
rumors of American reverses were rife, and to make public information 
definite, so far as it went, the War Department thought it wise to post a 
dispatch which it had received early that morning. This was as follows: 

Siboucy, via I'laya del Este, July 1.- — I fear I have underestimated today's 
casualties. A large and thoroughly equipped hospital ship should be sent 
here at once to care for the wounded. The chief surgeon says he lias use for 
forty more medical otticers. The ship must bring a launch and boats for con- 
veying the wounded. SHAFTER, MajorGeneral. 

The next message made public sent a wave of apprehension over the 
capital. The text was as follows: 

Camp Near Sevilla, Cuba, via Playa del Este, July 3. — We have the town 
well invested in Ihe north and east, but with a very thin line. Upon approach- 
ing it we find it of such a character and the defense so strong it will be 
impossible to carry it by storm with my present forces. Our losses up to 
date will aggregate 1,000, but list has uot yet been made. But little sick- 
ness outside of exhaustion from intense heat and exertion of the battle of 
day liefore yesterday and the almost constant fire which is kept up on the 
trenches. Wagon road to the rear is kept open with dilliculty on account 
of rains, Init I will be able to u.se it for the present. General Wheeler is 
seriously ill and will probably have to go to the rear to-day. General Young 
is also vi-ry ill, confined to his bed. General Hawkins slightly wounded in 
tlic foot during sortie enemy made last night, which was haudsouu'ly 
repulsed. The behavior of the troops was magnificent. General Ciarcia 
rejioi'ted he holds tiie railroad from Santiago to San Luis and has burned 
ji bridge and rciiioNed some rails; also tluit General Pando has arrived at 
Pahiia and llial the French consul, witli about JOO French citizens, came 
into his line ycstei'day from Santiago. I have directed him to treat them 
with every courtesy ])ossible. SlIAFTER, MajorGeneral. 

Secretary Alger sent ilic Inllnwing leply to (leneral Shaffer: 

To fieneral Shafler: Tlie I'resideiil directs me to say tliat yoii have the 
gratitude and IhanUs of tlie nation for the bi'illiaiit and ellective woi'k of 
your noblr- army on Friday. July 1. The steady valor and hei'oism of oflicers 
and nu'U llwill the Americnii ])co]ile with jii'ide. Tlie country niourns the 



CONTINUED SUCCESS FOR THE AMERICANS. 400 

brave men who fell in battle. They have added new names to our roll of 
heroes. R- A. ALGER, Secretary of War. 

The gallantry of the general officers was conspicuous during the 
fighting. Major-General Wheeler, who was seriously indisposed the 
night before, was suffering from an attack of fever the morning of the 
fight, but he ordered an ambulance to convey him to the front. The 
ambulance, once there, the sound of fighting restored his breath, and in 
a short time he was calling for his horse and personally directing his 
division in the attack. 

General Hawkins, commanding the First Brigade, Ninth Division, 
was conspicuous for the manner in which he exposed himself to Spanish 
bullets. After taking the redoubt on the hill with his command he 
stood for a long time on the summit watching the fight. A heavy fire 
at times was concentrated on the spot, but he surveyed the field of battle 
while the bullets were whizzing past by hundreds. 

Lieutenant-Colonel Roosevelt was in front of his regiment through- 
out the day, and his boot heel was carried away by a piece of shell. 

The greatest care and attention were bestowed upon the wounded 
men, and all were cared for in a very short time after reaching the hos- 
pital. The hospital of the Second Division was established on the field 
of battle, as was also a cavalry division hospital. The hospital of the 
First Division was a short distance west of General Shaffer's headquar- 
ters, where, by 10 o'clock 500 men had received medical attention. Those 
seriously hurt were kept near the hospital, the officers being placed 
under two large palms. The men were placed upon the ground around 
the tents and made as comfortable as possible. The provisional hos- 
pital at Siboney received a large number of men, who, all night long, 
loitered along the road from the front as best they could. 

Destruction of Cervera's Fleet. 

On the morning of July 3, Admiral Ccrvera, commander of the Span- 
ish fleet in the harbor of Santiago de Caiba, made a bold dash for liberty 
by a desperate attempt to break through the American line, in the hope 
of reaching the open sea. 

In the face of overwhelming odds, with nothing before him but in- 
evitable destruction or surrender if he remained any longer in the trap 
in which the American fleet held him, he made a dash from the harbor 



410 



CONTINUED SUCCESS FOR THE AMERICANS. 



at the time the Americans least expected him to do so, and fighting 
every inch of his war, even when his ship Avas ablaze and sinking, he 
tried to escape the doom which was Ma-itten on the muzzle of every 
American gnn trained upon his vessels. 

The Americans saw him the moment he left the harbor and com- 
menced their work of destruction immediately. For an hour or two 
they followed the flying Spaniards to the westward along the shore 
line, sending shot after shot into their blazing hulls, tearing great holes 
in th(?ir steel sides and covering their decks with the blood of the killed 
and wounded. 

At no time did the Spaniards show any indication that they intended 
to do otherwise than fight to the last. They showed no signals to sur- 
render even when their ships commenced to sink, and the great clouds 
of smoke pouring from their sides showed they were on fire. But they 
turned their heads toward the shore, less than a mile away, and ran 
them on the beach and rocks, where their destruction was soon com- 
pleted. The officers and men on board then escaped to the shore as 
well as they could, with the assistance of boats sent from the American 
men-of-war, and then threw themselves on the mercy of their captors, 
who not only extended to them the gracious hand of American chivalry, 
but sent them a guard to protect them from the murderous bands of 
Cuban soldiers hiding in the bush on the hillside eager to rush down 
and attack the unarmed, defeated, but valorous foe. 

One after another of the Sjjanish ships became the victims of the 
awful rain of shells which the American battleships, cruisers, and gun- 
boats i)oured upon them, and two hours after the first of the fleet liad 
started out of Santiago harbor three cruisers and two torpedo-boat de- 
stroyers were lying on the shore ten or fifteen miles west of Morro Castle 
pounding to pieces, smoke and flame pouring from every part of them 
and covering the entire coast line Milh a mist which could be seen for 
miles. 

Heavy explosions of ammunition occurred every few minutes, send- 
ing curls of dense, white smoke 100 feet in the air and causing a shower 
of broken iron and steel to fall in the water on every side. 

The bluffs (tn the coast line echoed with the roar of every explosion 
and the Si)anish vessels sank deeper and deeper into the sand or else 
tiie rocks ground their hulls to pieces as they rolled and pitched for- 
waril or sideways with every wave tliat washed upon them from the 
ojien sea. 



CONTINUED SUCCESS FOR THE AMERICANS. 411 

Cervera Gives Up His Sword. 

Cepvera on the Cristobal Colon made tbe longest run for liberty, and 
yielded to his fate only when confronted with the alternative of inevit- 
able death. When his ship, all in flames, sroiinded on the beach and 
was being pounded by the surf ten or twelve miles beyond tlie harbor 
to the westward a boat was lowered to his assistance from the Glouces- 
ter, and be surrendered his sword to Lieutenant Morton, who was the 
officer in command. 

With several of his officers, including the Captain of the flagship, 
the Spanish Admiral, who was wounded in« the arm, was taken to the 
Gloucester and was received at its gangway by its commander, Lieuten- 
ant Commander Richard Wainwright, who grasped the hand of the 
gray-bearded Admiral and said to him: 

"I congratulate you, sir, upon having made as gallant a fight as was 
ever witnessed on the sea." 

Lieutenant Commander Wainwright then placed his cabin at the 
disposal of the Spanish officers. 

Unexpected by the Americans. 

The moment selected by the Spanish Admiral for his attempt to run 
the gauntlet of the American fleet Avas well chosen. The quiet of a peace- 
ful Sunday morning lay over the anchored fleet of Admiral Sampson, 
and no signs of life were visible about Moito Castle. Up the harbor 
toward the city of Santiago all was still. After two days of flghting 
the armies of both nations were resting in their trenches. 

The American Admiral, wishing to learn the exact condition of the 
Spanish coast defenses about Aguadores, ordered the flagship to go 
that way, and, weighi-ng anchor, the New York leisurely steamed off to 
the eastward. 

Suddenly a vessel appeared near the entrance of the harbor about 
9:30 o'<-lock. It was steering straight toward the American fleet. The 
Sabbath quiet of the American officers and sailors was changed to ex- 
citement. Seizing their glasses they scanned the harbor entrance and 
were amazed to discover that an armored cruiser was coming out. 

In the absence of Admiral Sampson, Commodore Schley, on the ' 
Brooklyn, signaled the American warships to close in. In a few mo- 
ments it was seen that the vessel was the Cristobal Colon, Admiral Cer- 



4rj 



CONTIXLEU SrCCES!-; FOR THE A.MEKI("ANS. 



vera's flafiship. It had pas.st'd the wreck of the Mcrrimar and was 
making for the sea at full speed. 

"With a rush like that of the Spanish flagship the Almiraute Oqnendo 
next came following it toward the open sea. Behind it came the Viz- 
caya and Infanta Maria Teresa, also at full speed, while the rear was 
brouglit up by the two torpedo-boat destroyers, the Furor and the 
Piuton. 

This stirring scene, so dramatic and unexjyected, quickly jiut llie 
captain of every American vessel on Ids mettle. "Cervera's trying to 
escapel" was the cry that resounded through the fleet. 

There is tio doubt that. the Q'istobal Colon and ])erliaps the other 
three Spanish armored cruisers would have escaped had it not been for 
the prompt action of Commodore Schley. The Brooklyn, his flagship, 
alone Avas in a ])osition to attack tlie Spanish vessels as they left the 
harbor, an<l tlic Commodore steamed directly toward them and engaged 
all four cruisers, inflicting great damage upon them. 

The Oregon was the flrst to join the Brooklyn, and afterward the 
Iowa, Indiana, Texas, and Vixen closed around the S])aniards, all pour- 
ing in a deadly Are, but, from the beginning to the end of the fight tlie 
Broolciyn. Oregon, and Oioucester took the most imi)ortant ])art in the 
destruction of the enemy. 

Hit by the Big Guns. 



The flagship and the Oiiuendo wcic tlie lirst to show signals of dis- 
tress. Two thirteen-inch shells fnuii one of the l)attleshii)s had struck 
the Maria Teresa at the water line, tearing gi-eat iioles in her side and 
causing hei- to fill rai)idly. The Ofjuendo suflerwl about the same fate 
and both shi])s headed f(»r a small cove and went aground '2(H) yards 
from the shore, llames shooting from (hem iu every direction. 

The oflicers and crew must have been aware of the fate which seemed 
to be befoi'e them, but it was not until the shijis were on fire and envel- 
oj)ed in flames and smoke Ili;it llic men ceased firing. 

The (lloucesler, after semling a i)oat asliorc to the Piuton, steamed 
along the coast to where tiie armiin'<l nuiscis were stranded and went 
to their assistance. There was ilanger from the magazines, and many 
of those on board jumjjed into the water and swam t<» tiie shore, though 
a number were unable to reach the small strip of sandy beach in tlie 
cove and were thrown against the rocks and killed or drowned. 



CONTINUED SUCCESS FOR THE AMERICANS. 413 

Many of the wouuded were lowered into the ships' own boats and 
tali^en ashore, but this task was a most difficult one. 

Cervera Rescued by the Gloucester. 

The Ghiucester had all her boats out and one seaman swam through 
the surf Avith a line from the Maria Teresa, makino- it fast to a tree 
on the shore. By this means many on the flagship, including Admiral 
Cervera, lowered themselves into the Gloucester's boats. The wounded 
were ta^en to the Gloucester as rapidly as possible, and the lower deck 
of the yacht was soon covered with Spanish sailors mangled in limb and 
body by the bursting of shells. 

Chase of the Cristobal Colon. 

The Brooklyn, Oi'egon, Massachusetts and Texas and several smaller 
vessels continued the chase of the Ci'istobal Colon, and in less than an 
hour were lost to view of the burning ships on shore. The Iowa and 
Texas both gave assistance to the imperiled crew of the Vizcaya, Her 
Captain surrendered his command and the prisoners were transferred 
to the battleship. The Vizcaya probably lost about sixtj^ men, as she 
carried a complement of 400 and only 3t0 were taken aboard the Iowa. 

Soon after Admiral Cervera reached the shore and suiTendered he 
was taken to the Gloucester, at his own request. There was no mis- 
taking the heartbroken expression upon the old commander's face as 
he took the proffered hand of Captain Wainwright and was shown to 
the latter's cabin, but he made eveiy effort to bear bravely the bitter 
defeat that had come to him. He thanked the Captain of the Glouces- 
ter for the words of congratulation offered on the gallant fight, and then 
spoke earnestly of his solicitude for the safety of his men on shore. He 
informed Captain Wainwright that Cuban soldiers were on the hills 
prepai'ing to attack his unarmed men and asked that they be protected. 

Four hours after Admiral Cervera went aboard the Gloucester the 
Infanta Maria Teresa, Almirante Oquendo and Vizcaya continued to 
burn and every now and then a deep roar, accompanied by a burst of 
flame and smoke from the sides of the ships would announce the explo- 
sion of more ammunition or another magazine. 

It may be mentioned as a coincidence that Lieutenant-Commander 
Wainwright, the Commander of the Gloucester, was executive officer of 



41 I 



("ONTIXIED SUCCESS FOR THE AMEKICANS. 



tlif Maiiif ill the time of tlie disaster, and, altliouji'h lie I'ciiiaiiicd in 
IIav::na liarbor two niontlis after the exidosiou lie lived on hoard the 
dispatcii boat Feru and steadfastly refnsed to set his foot within the 
city nntil the time should come when he could «;o ashore at the head of 
a landing party of American blue jackets. To-day it was his shi]) that 
sank two Spanish torpedo-boat destroyers and afterward icceived the 
Spanish Admiral aboard as a prisoner of war. 

From his position on the bridfje of the Gloucester Lieutenant-Com- 
mander Wainwright watched the flames and smoke as they enveloped 
the decks (»f the three s^'eatest warships of the Spanish navy, which 
were soon to be reduced to nothing but shattered masts and twisted 
snndvestacks jn-otruding above the water. 

The prisoners of war included the captains of both boats. None 
offered any resistance and all were glad to go to the Gloucester, as they 
feared an attack from the Cubans. 

When asked to make some statement in regard to the result of the 
battle Admiral Cervera said: "I wotdd rather lose my ships at sea, like 
a sailor, than in a harbor. It was the only thing left for uh> to do." 

The work of the American battleships was as rapid as it was ter- 
rible. At 9:35 the first vessel headed out past Morro Castle. At 10 
o'clock the two destroyers were wrecked and deserted. At 10:15 the 
()(|uendo and INIana Teresa wi-re encircled by the Iowa, Indiana and 
Texas. At 10:40 both were on the rocks. A few minutes later the Viz- 
caya was abandoned. 

The Cristobal Colon, having llic lead, ran farther along tlie coast 
before the persistent tiring by the l?rn(d;lyn and Massachuseltji brougiit 
her to a sto]>. She fought for twenty minutes. At noon she was on the 
rocks, jicrforaled and tatt<Tcd. S])aiu's greatest lleet was dcsti'oycd 
in aliout three hours. 

Chief Yoenian Ellis of the Brooklyn was tlic only AuuTican killed 
in three hours of incessant lighting. 

Hobson and His Men Exchanged. 



A.ssistant Naval Constructor I^iclimond 1'. lIol)son (tf the llagsiii]) 
New York and the seven seamen who with him saileil the collier Jlerri 
mac into the channel of the harbor of Santiago de Ciiba on .Tune 2 and 
s\nd< her there were surrendcicd by the Sjtanish militaiy authorities 
on .fulv t; in exchange for jirisoners captured by the American forces. 



CONTINUED SUCCESS FOR THE AMERICANS. 4 J 5 

Hobsou aud his nu-n were escorted tlir(iiii;h the Auierican lint« by 
Captain C:had^vick of the New York, who was awaitin<;- tliem. Every 
step of their joiiruey was marked by the wildest demonstrations on the 
part of the American soldiers, who threw aside all semblance of order, 
scrambled out of the iutrenchments, knocked over tent-f^niys aud other 
camp paraphernalia in their eagerness to see the returning heroes, and 
sent np cheer after cheer for the men who had passed safely through 
the jaws of death to serve their country. 

Ilobson had little to say in regard to his exj)eriences, except that he 
and his companions had been w^ell treated by the Spaniards and that 
they were all in excellent health. 

General Miles Assumes Command in Cuba. 

On July 13 General Miles arrived at the front and assumed personal 
command of the army around Santiago. Negotiations for the peaceful 
surrender of the city had been going on for several days between Gen- 
eral Shaffer, commander of the American forces, and General Toral of 
the Spanish army, but it was not until the lOth that a final agreement 
was reached. On this date conditions of surrender were offered, the 
l)rincipal articles of which were as follows: 

First, that all hostilities shall cease pending the agreement of final 
capitulation. Second, that the capitulation includes all the Spanish 
forces and the surrender of all war material within the prescribed limits. 

Third, that the transjiortation of the troops to Spain shall be fur- 
nished at the earliest possible moment, each force to be embarked at the 
nearest port. 

Fourth, that the Spanish officers shall retain tlieir side arms and the 
enlisted men their personal proiK'rty. 

Fifth, that after the final capitulation the Sitanish forces shall assist 
in the removal of all obstructions to navigation in Santiago harbor. 

Sixth, that after the final capitulation the commanding officers shall 
furnish a complete inventory of all arms and munitions of war and a 
roster of all soldiers in the district. 

Seventh, that the Spanish general shall be jiermitted to take the mili- 
tary archives and records with him. 

Eighth, that all gnerrilla.s and Spanish irregulars sliall he jiermitted 
to remain in C^iba, giving a i>arole that they will not again take uj) 
arms against the United States unless jjroperly relea.sed from parole. 

Ninth, that the Si)anish forces shall be iiermitted to march out with 



lu; coxTiNUEr) success foi; the a.mekicans. ' /ij 

all till' honors of war, depositing their arms to be disposed of by the 
United States in the future, the American commissioners to recommend 
to their Government that the arms of the soldiers be returaed to those 
"who so bravely defended them." 

By the terms of this a^Teement the southeastern end of Cuba — an 
area of about 5,000 square miles— the cajntal of the i)roviuce, the forts 
and their heavy j^uns, and Toral's armj-, about 25,000 strouii', passed into 
our possession. Amid impressive ceremonies the Sitauish troops laid 
down their arms between the lines of the Spanish and American forces 
at 9 o'clock on the morning of July 17. 

General Shaffer and the American division and brigade couimaiKlers 
and their staffs were escorted by a troop of cavalry, and General Toi*al 
and his staff by one hundred picked men. General Shaffer returned to 
General Toral the latter's .sword after it had been handed to the Ameri- 
can commander. 

Our troops, lined up at the trendies, Men* eye witnesses of the cere- 
mony. General Sliafter and his escort, accom])auicd by (ieneral Toral, 
rode through the city, taking formal jiossession. 

Hoisting the Stars and Stripes. 

On the rcil-tilcil roof nt' the jialace stood rajilain .McKiltrick, Lieu- 
tenant Alilcy and Lieutenant Wheeler; immediately above liiem, upon 
the llagstalT, the illuininaled Spanish arms and the legend "Viva Alfonso 
XI II." All about, ])ressing against the veranda rails, crowding to win- 
dows and doors and lining the roofs, were the p<H)ple of the town, prin- 
cipally women and non-combatants. As the chimes of the old cathedral 
rang out the hour of twelve the infantry and cavalry presented arms. 
Eveiy American uncoveied, an<l ("ajitain McKittrick lioisted the stars 
and stripes. As the brilliant folds unfurled in a gentle breeze against a 
tleckless sky the cavaliy band broke into the strains of "The Star- 
Spangled Hanner," making the American pulse leap and the American 
heart thrill with joy. 

At tlie same instant the sound of the distant booming of ra])tain 
('apron's battery, firing a salute of twenty-one guns, drifted in. When 
the music ceased, from all directions came floating across the plaza the 
sti-aius of the bands and the mullled, hoarse cheers of our tr()o])s. 

The ceremony over, (ieneral Shaffer and his staff returned to the 
.\merican lines, leaving the city in the possession of the municipal au- 
thorities, snltj<'(t to the control of Genei-al McKiblton. 



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